Meili promises to cut surgical wait times with new $60M facility

Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili stood in front of an empty field on Wednesday near Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Regina to show how he wants to spend $60 million.

Meili said that field is where the Saskatchewan Party government promised in 2012 to build a surgical centre for southern Saskatchewan.

If elected on Oct. 26, Meili promises to finish the job.

The facility would house surgeries, diagnostic imaging, pharmacy, rehabilitation and outpatient cancer care.

“An NDP government will get the job done and build a new surgical centre for southern Saskatchewan, a centre that was badly needed when it was first promised by the Sask. Party in 2012 and is even more necessary now,” Meili said.

The surgical centre is part of Meili’s plan to cut down on wait times for surgeries and diagnostic tests, which he said have become longer under the Moe government.

“The waitlist has grown (and) grown to over 26,000 people and there are 11,000 fewer surgeries being performed than previous years,” Meili said.

Donna Smith is among them and Meili invited the Regina resident to speak during the campaign event.

Smith, seen wearing a brace on her right leg, has been waiting for surgery since June 2019.

She said while waiting, she has been unable to participate in activities she enjoys like walking, hiking and sports.

As well, Smith said she is unable to make firm plans on travel and family visits because at any moment, it could be her turn to go under the knife.

Smith also worries about potential side effects from the medication she’s on.

“The longer people wait, the more they suffer, the more outcomes can be worse,” she said.

Taking questions from reporters, Meili pointed to his party’s promise to hire hundreds of health-care workers when asked
how he would ensure adequate staffing at the facility.

“We know there are lots of new graduates in Saskatchewan looking for work. Some of them might be coming from Alberta,” he said.

“(Premier) Jason Kenney’s doing a pretty good job running his austerity government, running his Moe-style government. He’s doing a good job chasing people out of Alberta. They’re welcome to come here. We’d be happy to have them and put them to work.”

To pay for his party’s promises, Meili said the NDP’s proposed wealth tax would make a “substantial contribution” in revenue.

He said the NDP’s commitments are investments that will stimulate the economy and lead to growth.

“We’re selecting the investments in child care, in home care, in health care, in building with Saskatchewan companies that will grow our economy and allow our revenues to increase,” Meili said.