Overdose Crisis
During Question Period on Wednesday, a member of the Saskatchewan NDP stated that the overdose crisis in the province is out of control, referencing the new numbers posted on the Saskatchewan Coroner’s website.
Jared Clarke says in 2023, 437 people have lost their lives to overdose. He adds that that number is a new record, and there is still one month left to go in 2023.
Clarke says he wants to see a real plan to address the crisis and stop harm in communities across the province. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Tim McLeod says the toxic drug supply in Saskatchewan is a grave concern, which is why he is focused on the recovery and treatment of individuals.
“We are making record investments in mental health and addictions. We’ve unveiled a 5-year mental health and addictions action plan that is doubling the number of addictions treatment spaces, making it easier for individuals to access those spaces,” McLeod stated.
There were 421 overdose deaths in 2022 compared to 401 in 2021, which itself was a record.
Death of Andrea Parmar
Along similar lines, members of the Saskatchewan NDP believe that the state of the province’s healthcare system is leading to tragedies.
Party Leader Carla Beck was referring to 50-year-old Andrea Parmar, a woman who died in the Yorkton hospital back in April of 2022.
Beck says Parmar’s parents are still searching for answers as to what happened to their daughter.
“They want to know why Andrea wasn’t intubated, why she wasn’t seen by an internal medical specialist that night, and why there was no effort to transfer her to Regina when it was clear that her health began to deteriorate,” Beck claims.
Minister of Health Everett Hindley says he believes that some answers have been provided to Parmar’s parents surrounding her death, however, has a meeting scheduled with them for Thursday where he intends to discuss the circumstances.
Beck says short staffing is now the norm across the healthcare system, but she wants to ensure that nothing like this ever happens in a Saskatchewan hospital.
Underfunding of the Arts and Culture sector
A member of the NDP also claimed that the current government is underfunding the Arts and Culture sector, and it is in crisis because of it.
Nathaniel Teed says members of the various arts organizations across the province have attempted to raise their concerns to the minister responsible, but they feel unheard.
Minister of Parks, Culture, and Sport Laura Ross says in 2023-2024, the government invested nearly $30 million into that sector.
“Including $12 million for Creative Saskatchewan, $165,000 increase to $6.8 million to Sask. Arts, $105,000 increasing to $4.3 million for the Western Development Musuem,” Ross listed.
Teed says these investments have barely made a dent in the issue, as some of these organizations are still on the brink of closing. He adds that the government is under-supporting the sector, and asked Ross what she is willing to do to undo that damage.
Ross says Teed’s accusations are unsettling, as there was a 2.5 per cent increase in base funding to Arts, Culture and Heritage in last year’s budget.
