Gormley, Monday, March 15, 2021
8:30 – The vaccine rollout is ramping up. Over the weekend, Saskatchewan surpassed the 100,000 mark for vaccines administered. One million Pfizer vaccine doses a week are expected in Canada until early May – that’s potentially 31,600 vaccines a week for Saskatchewan between March 22 and May 10. Saskatchewan is slated to receive more than 14,000 Pfizer vaccines this week and more than 26,000 doses next week. Today those over 70 years of age, and 50 years and older in the far north, can start booking their vaccinations. The AstraZeneca drive-thru is also open in Regina today for those 64 years old. We will have an update on where we are with vaccines and what’s being funneled into Canada and Saskatchewan.
9:00 – The Hour of the Big Stories… Open Session
9:30 – Bill C-7, which expands access to medically-assisted dying to those who are suffering but not approaching the end of their natural lives, is heading back to the Senate for a final vote after being approved by the Liberals and Bloc in the House of Commons. Saskatchewan Senator Denise Batters has serious objections to the bill, saying expanding access to assisted suicide to people suffering with mental illness would have dire consequences and places Canadians at risk of death when they still have hopes of a full recovery. Batters joins Gormley to discuss the bill and why she objects to the amendment.
PRE-TAPE: Denise Batters, senator.
10:00 – While minimum wage increases are generally touted as help for low-income households, a new report from the Fraser Institute suggests a higher minimum wage could actually hurt the groups it’s intended to help. Economist Philip Cross notes that minimum wage hikes cause employment losses, especially among the most common group to earn minimum wages – youths. Cross joins Gormley to tell us more. Do you support increasing Saskatchewan’s minimum wage? Call 1-877-332-8255 and let us know.
LIVE: Philip Cross, senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and former economist with Statistics Canada.
11:00 – Todd MacKay with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation joins Gormley to tell us about the winners of the Teddy Awards, recognizing the worst wastes of taxpayer dollars in Canada over the past year.
LIVE: Todd MacKay, Prairie Director with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
12:00 – Sheldon Smith with SaskPower joins Gormley to tell us more about an announcement the Crown power corporation made this morning.
LIVE: Sheldon Smith, Director of Customer Services and Billing at SaskPower.