The Angus Reid Institute surveyed 1,100 Canadians who voted for the NDP at least once between 2015 and 2025 and found that 44 per cent of respondents said they could not name any of the candidates when asked who would be the best leader.

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Name recognition is higher among poll respondents who have consistently voted for the NDP over the past decade, but even in that cohort 31 per cent said they aren’t familiar with the leadership candidates.

The poll suggests filmmaker Avi Lewis is the favourite among respondents, with 13 per cent saying he would make the best leader, followed by Alberta MP Heather McPherson at nine per cent.

The survey was conducted online between March 11 and 17 and the polling industry’s professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys can’t be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

Voting in the six-month leadership campaign wraps on March 28 and the new leader will be announced on March 29.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2026.

Jared Clarke, the NDP’s rural and remote health critic, said the bill would ban parking fees for people who are attending a Saskatchewan Health Authority facility to receive cancer treatment.

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“In Saskatchewan, we have casinos, government-run casinos, where people can go and gamble and have free parking, and yet cancer patients in this province are being charged to park to get their treatment,” said Clarke.

He said having to pay for parking is another complicating factor for people already navigating a cancer diagnosis and treatment plan.

“When people are struggling with that, they shouldn’t have to worry about whether they have to pay for parking or not. It should just be as simple as it can be. So you get in, you get your treatment, you work on getting healthy. That should be what it’s about,” he explained.

Clarke said the move doesn’t have to be in legislation. It could just be a policy change from the provincial government.

Lori Carr, Saskatchewan’s rural and remote health minister, said the government won’t be supporting the bill, and the policies around parking will likely stay the same.

She explained that the money collected through parking fees goes to maintaining parking lots at health centres so other health-care funds can be used for care rather than maintenance.

“It’s a policy that the SHA has in place to ensure that there are parking spots available for people when they need it, as well as maintaining those parking lots and ensuring that the dollars that are invested by the government go to front-line care,” said Carr.

Carr asked how the government could be expected to chose one type of diagnosis over another when deciding who gets free parking.

Clarke called the explanation from the minister “weak.”

“What will it take for this government to show some goddamn compassion to cancer patients in this province?” he asked.

The spring sitting starts in the afternoon, though without Premier Scott Moe who will be away on a trade mission to India for the first week.

Ahead of the sitting, Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck said her Opposition has a lot of plans for the spring, including holding the provincial government to account in the areas she said they’re failing.

“We’re talking about the cost of living, we’re talking about the cost of health care, we’re talking about education, community safety, all of those things,” she said.

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Beck said the party has a lot of people who’ve been waiting to come to the legislative building to say their piece.

“I think you’ll see a whole lot of people who’ve been waiting for some time now to come and hold this government to account, people wanting to come and talk about their experiences in this province where they’re being failed by this government,” said Beck.

She said there will also be a lot of private members’ bills from the NDP, including around health care. Beck also plans to introduce an emergency motion on Monday to introduce actions aimed at relieving child poverty in the province. She also talked about the report the NDP is working on about the energy future of Saskatchewan.

In the third week of the sitting, the provincial budget is expected to be introduced.

Premier Scott Moe has already been talking about the budget, letting the province know it will have a deficit.

Other provinces that have already released their budgets are also in the red, and Moe said everyone is dealing with pressures around needs in social services, health, addictions and policing.

“Are you going to cut services, increase taxes and run a tremendous deficit as they did in British Columbia, or are you going to make the focus to continue with the investments that you have, rely on the growth of your economy in the next few years and try to minimize that deficit and really protect the services people in this province expect their provincial government to be looking at,” said Moe.

The premier believes Saskatchewan has a more resilient economy than most of the other provinces.

A number of pieces of legislation introduced in the fall are expected to pass this spring. They include a bill to change who can change their name in Saskatchewan, a bill to deal with stranded mining assets, and a bill to allow tailgating at Saskatchewan Roughriders games.

The biggest piece of legislation likely to pass is the government’s bill to allow people to be forced into addictions treatment under specific circumstances. It was introduced on the last day of the fall sitting, and the minister said he wanted to make sure there were conversations about it during the session break.

The NDP also have a number of private members’ bills that were introduced in the fall that may get to a vote this spring.

Researcher, Dr. Cheryl Camillo, was announced as a part of the Opposition’s team on Thursday. She will be the lead researcher on its Your Care Your Say project.

She was an associated professor at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Regina, but is American and came to Saskatchewan on a prestigious Fulbright U.S.-Canada Fellowship.

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Camillo said she spent 10 years conducting health-care research in Saskatchewan, including working on a recent paper about rural health care in the province. Before that, she worked in the U.S., including developing policy that she said would later influence Obamacare.

The NDP launched its health-care consultation last fall, and its health-care critic, Meara Conway, said the response and engagement from the public have been tremendous. Leader Carla Beck said more and more people are reaching out, in part, because it’s a meaningful consultation.

“This is not what, unfortunately, health-care workers have seen in the past – fake consultation that doesn’t take into account any of the things that they are telling those who are doing the research,” said Beck.

The information gleaned from the consultation will, and has, influenced private members’ bills for the NDP MLAs and will help to inform the NDP’s platform for the next election, likely in 2028.

Camillo will help the NDP interpret that information and develop it into solutions for the problems in the province.

She said, right now, the province’s health-care system is collapsing.

“I’ve been here 10 years working on the health-care system, and I’d say, especially since the end of the COVID lockdowns, it’s been declining at just an unbelievably rapid rate,” said Camillo.

She also warned against moving toward a U.S.-style health-care system, saying it would be a disaster for Saskatchewan.

Conway said an initial report will be produced from the health-care consultation, but couldn’t say when that might happen. She said a lot of information has been coming in, and the party doesn’t want to rush things.

Meanwhile, the Sask. Party government says it’s focusing on putting patients first and improving access to the publicly-funded health care that people count on.

“This includes delivery of some publicly funded, privately delivered health services, which the NDP have consistently campaigned to shut down. This would result in the cancellation of thousands of surgeries and diagnostic procedures performed in Saskatchewan every year, further increasing wait times for Saskatchewan patients,” said the government in a statement.

The provincial government published 12 special warrants on Thursday last week, authorizing extra spending for government ministries over and above what was budgeted for 2025-26.

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Special warrants are issued when there isn’t enough money specifically budgeted to cover expenses considered to be “urgently required” for the public good. They’re issued when the Legislative Assembly isn’t sitting.

If the extra money authorized this month is added to the $427-million deficit projected by the province at the mid-year update, it would put the province at a $1.077 billion deficit for the 2025-26 fiscal year. That’s after projecting a small $12-million surplus at the start of the year.

The largest chunk of the $650,078,000 is a special warrant for $338,000,000 under the Ministry of Health. The largest piece of that will go to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, $284,800,000, but tens of million is also spread between the Sask. Cancer Agency, eHealth Saskatchewan, Canadian Blood Services and physician services.

An extra $99.3 million will go to AgriStability under the Agriculture Ministry. The provincial government hasn’t explained why the extra money is needed, but in summer 2025 there was a one-time increase to compensation announced and the maximum payment cap for the 2025 was doubled.

Under the extra $43.922 million for the Ministry of Community Safety is $29.984 million more for the RCMP.

In 2024, the province and the RCMP signed a deal that would provide more funding if the Mounties can recruit to fill those positions – it’s unclear if these special warrants are related to that deal.

The Official opposition called the Sask. Party a “tax and squander government.”

“With Scott Moe at the wheel, these guys are spending like drunken sailors,” said NDP Leader Carla Beck in a news release.

“Scott Moe and his ministers are spending more and more every day, and the people of Saskatchewan are getting less and less in return.”

The NDP is calling for the government to release the third-quarter financial update immediately. Normally, the province releases it in March at the same time as the budget for the coming year.

The government didn’t give any more details on the spending or reasons for it in its emailed response to the NDP. It also didn’t say whether it would release the third-quarter update early.

The government statement pointed out the NDP has been calling for the province to spend more on health care and other services, as well as protecting Saskatchewan from tariffs.

“Now, after the government has done exactly that, the NDP is demanding that we cut spending,” read the statement.

The government pointed to the budget tabled this week in B.C. which has a $13-billion deficit with tax increases, an NDP government, and more than four times the population of Saskatchewan, claiming that is what would happen in Saskatchewan with an NDP government at the helm.

“In Saskatchewan’s upcoming budget, our government will be moving forward with the second year of our personal income tax reduction plan, which means lower taxes for everyone in Saskatchewan,” read the statement.

980 CJME has reached out to the government for more explanation on the special warrants and what the money is needed for.

Other special warrants

The special warrants given to the Ministry of Finance include $11 million to a research and development tax credit and $5.185 million to Saskatchewan secondary suite incentive grant program – a total of $16.185 million.

The special warrant to Education Ministry includes $33.5 million to central management services – central services, while $2.9 million will go to teachers’ pensions and benefits – extended health plan, totalling $36.4 million.

Highways Ministry was issued special warrants for preservation of transportation system – surface preservation of $2.7 million, infrastructure and equipment capital – infrastructure enhancement will receive $14 million, operation of transportation system – winter maintenance will have $7 million, airports will receive $480,000 while strategic municipal infrastructure – urban connectors will get $2 million.

Ministry of Immigration and Career Training’s workforce developed was issued a special warrant for $1,864,000.

Under the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, a special warrant was issued for the Status of Women Office for $310,000.

Special warrants were issued to the social services ministry, including $9.9 million to the Saskatchewan income support, $4.1 million for seniors personal care home benefit, $48 million for child and family program maintenance and support, and $13 million for disability services under the disability programs and services.

For a full list of special warrants, visit the government’s official website.

– With files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick

Angus made the statement in a video message that was shared with The Canadian Press prior to its release.

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“Let’s be blunt. The last election was a catastrophe. I think it was a catastrophe that was 10 years in the making,” Angus says in the video.

“I ran for party leadership myself. I understand how complex it is to build a movement that is balanced across this country. I’m sorry, but that is not an entry level position.”

Angus said the party needs a leader who knows how to win and attract new supporters and McPherson has shown she can do that in traditionally Conservative Alberta.

Angus added that with the NDP lacking official party status, the party needs a leader who is able to push its agenda in the House of Commons right after Jagmeet Singh’s successor is chosen.

Other candidates are also securing their own high-profile endorsements.

Environmentalist David Suzuki endorsed documentarian Avi Lewis Tuesday afternoon.

“Avi Lewis understands what this moment demands. His life’s work reflects a deep commitment to social justice, ending poverty, and confronting the climate emergency with honesty rather than delay,” Suzuki said in his endorsement statement.

“At a time when courage is in short supply in Ottawa, we need leaders willing to speak plainly about what science tells us and act accordingly.”

In December, union leader Rob Ashton picked up the support of the United Steelworkers union, one of the founding partners of the NDP.

“In these challenging times, workers need a political leader who is right for this moment — someone who doesn’t just talk about the challenges working people face, but has lived them, fought for progress and delivered real results. Rob is that person,” said Marty Warren, USW national director, in a Dec. 2 media release.

The NDP leadership race is closing in on its final stretch and Jan. 28 is the cutoff date to become a voting member.

The candidates are scheduled to meet on Feb. 19 for an English language debate in B.C., and the new leader will be announced at the party’s convention in Winnipeg on March 29.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2026.

The Saskatchewan NDP leader sat down with 980 CJME senior reporter Lisa Schick to look ahead to the new year and discuss issues like health care, tariffs and more.

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The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

SCHICK: Did you make a resolution?

CARLA BECK: To find that elusive balance of taking care of myself and throwing myself completely into into the job. There’s a lot of work to do. And just keeping healthy, because it’s a long road to the next election.

Do you have a New Year’s resolution for the NDP?

BECK: We set a pretty good fundraising goal this year: to out-fundraise the Sask. Party. We are going to put everything into it, as as we do when we set a goal. We will continue to be in constituencies and communities right across this province, to do more work than than we did last year. And we set a pretty high bar last year. We’re going to be doing more work towards getting ready for the election. As I promised people on election night just just over a year ago, we weren’t going to stop. We were focused on the next incredibly important election in this province. People have become cynical, I think, over the last number of years. Our job to show them that not only is better possible, better is coming a year from now.

If we sat down again at the end of 2026, what do you want to have accomplished? What do you want to be able to talk about in that interview?

BECK: You’ll continue to see us bring those propositions forward. That’s one thing we heard loud and clear from people. Yes, they knew that things were not going well. They could see it when they went to pay their bills. They could see it when they took their kid to school or didn’t got called to bring their child home because there weren’t supports when they went to get a doctor. People understand that things are not going the way that they should be.

We’re going to continue to bring forward our solutions, built with the people of this province to show them, again, not only is better possible, but “Here’s the plan. This is how we’re going to get there.” We have taken on a lot. We’ve got a health-care consultation going on. I’m not going to suggest that there are simple answers there, but we will not find the answers if we don’t start listening to the communities and the front-line health-care workers, something this government has failed to do in such a spectacular way.

“We were focused on the next incredibly important election in this province,” said Beck about her hopes for the new year. (Liam Richards/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

We are also going to take on the grids and growth plan, looking at what the energy pathway is going to be to not only ensure that we have the energy that we need for today, but to fuel growth into the future. In this province, this is a lot to take on for an official Opposition, even a double the size one, but we’re not messing around (and) certainly not taking anything for granted.

But should we have the opportunity, the privilege of forming government after the next election? I can’t watch things go the way that they’re going in this province any longer. We want to be able to hit the ground running on day one. Probably a lot of opening the books when we get in into government, should that happen. We’ll see what happens from there, but I don’t want to be waiting. I think the people of this province have been waiting long enough for a government that is focused on them and the quality of their lives and the safety and security of their communities. We want to be able to deliver.

In a lot of cases this year, you certainly brought up a lot of problems, but not necessarily specifics when it comes to solutions. Are we going to hear more solutions this year? And I’m thinking particularly of health care.

BECK: We did. Health care and those consultations right now have been going on for a while. That’s not going to be a simple one. I’m not so generous with the government that I’m going to let them copy all of our homework. Ahead of the next election, we have been bringing forward some some solutions, though. I think of our private members’ bill, and we had, I don’t know if it was a record number of private members’ bills, but we certainly had a lot of private members’ bills in this last session. Sometimes private members’ bills are meant to raise an issue or draw attention to an issue, not always, but these ones certainly were pretty laser-focused on things that actually needed to happen.

Jared Clarke, the Sask. NDP’s rural and remote health critic, says it’s unacceptable and dangerous for people in rural Saskatchewan to have to drive around to find an open ER when someone is hurt. Sept. 10, 2025 (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

In the health-care bill, admittedly a band-aid solution, but the private members’ bill that Jared Clarke brought forward was to have transparency when it came to ER closures and service closures across the province. We’re hearing too many stories of people driving up to their local health centre only to find that ubiquitous-now piece of paper on the door telling them that “Sorry, there’s no staff here,” or “Services aren’t available.” You have to get in your car and drive back down the other direction. That’s a safety measure until we properly staff our hospitals, our health care centres. We did see the government sort of halfway take that up.

Rent control is pretty straightforward. It is as detailed a bill as we could put forward as the official Opposition to address the issue.

For 300,000 people in this province, the wildfire bill also very straightforward, built directly with those who have that knowledge on the front line. All of these bills. If the premier wants to talk about work ethic, if he wants to come back and pass any of those bills, I’ll sit next week to get that done. These were not just to raise an issue or just to complain, bringing those bills forward.

Those were three, off the top of my head, very straightforward bills that the government could have, and frankly should have taken us up on.

Your hopes for Saskatchewan in 2026?

BECK: Tariff turmoil, I think might be the first one. Some predictability (is needed). I know this is a place where people are maybe more than a lot of places optimistic and able to roll with the punches and find a way. This year was a lot. You think of our three major trading partners, tariffs, uncertainty, threats to sovereignty. I hope we get a number of projects on that infrastructure list, because that’s going to be crucial regardless of what happens with those tariffs, to heed that wake-up call and make sure that we are more effectively able to get what we grow and build and manufacture here in this province to market. We’ve got world-class products, world-leading products, but folks here are at a disadvantage if we can’t get it to market, and frankly, it’s something that hasn’t drawn enough attention over the last number of years in this country, and Saskatchewan hasn’t gotten our share when it comes to those projects. Get those ports running effectively, make sure that our product can get to market reliably so that those around the world who know that we grow the best crops in this province, best quality, that they can actually get them on time and reliably. And that’s something we hear all the time.

Pipelines, the electricity infrastructure, those tie-ins (are) crucial as well, to really harness that growth, that potential that we see when we think of mining. We’ve got a forestry industry and a steel industry that are under pressure because of tariffs as well. So the number-one wish is to get that tariff situation straightened out and get that infrastructure started.

“Get those ports running effectively, make sure that our product can get to market reliably, so that those around the world who who know that we grow the best crops in this province, best quality, that they can actually get them on time and reliably,” said Beck.

She sat down with 980 CJME senior reporter Lisa Schick to talk about the year that was, starting with the highlight for 2025, which she said was her team of Sask. NDP MLAs.

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The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Beck: And how relentless they’ve been at holding the government to account, I think, is the most gratifying thing that I think of when I look back at 2025.

Lisa: It’s been a while since you guys have had a team this big, eh?

Beck: It has been, it’s not only the largest opposition we’ve had in the province since 2011, I would stack this team up against anyone when it comes to how hard they work and the reasons why they work so hard.

This is a team that certainly does their job as the Official Opposition, holds a government to account, brings those criticisms, those concerns about provincial policy and spending forward.

But they are also riding that second horse as well, and really, really interested and dug into finding solutions to some of these issues that are impacting people in the province. And I have not seen that from any Opposition for a very long time. In fact, I don’t remember one that worked this hard.

Years from now, when you look back at 2025, what is the thing that’s going to stand out for you? 

Beck: (2025) is the year that we laid the groundwork to become the next government in Saskatchewan.

You’ve certainly been very aggressive this year in positioning yourselves as the up-and-coming government. It’s almost like you’re still in campaign mode. Why have you chosen that tactic when the next election is still three years away?

Beck: There’s a lot of work to do, and this is going to be an incredibly important election, the most important election in my lifetime, for sure. And I’m not that young anymore.

When I look at education, I look at health care, we’ve gone from being leaders in this country to being back of the pack, and the impacts that we’re seeing right across the province.

The amount of people that I have talked to this year who have never really struggled before, never had to think about what they were buying when they went to the grocery store, who now are saying, you know, I’m putting groceries on my credit card, I’m dipping into my savings, my retirement fund, just to pay for the basics.

This is a province that is incredibly rich, we still have a lot of revenue coming into this province, but somehow, through mismanagement, through misplaced priorities, we have more people struggling, working harder and harder, but struggling more than I’ve ever seen. And I grew up in the ’80s, there was a lot of struggle then.

People deserve better and it’s our job, not only to hold the government to account for where they’re failing — and there are many fronts where they’re failing — but I see the next year as convincing people that they deserve better, that better is possible, and that the Saskatchewan NDP is the team to be able to deliver that positive future the people in this province deserve.

An aerial view of the wildfire damage at Denare Beach. (Linda Lowe/Facebook)

There were a number of different private members’ bills that your team introduced this year, is there one that sticks out for you?

Beck: I know you asked for one, I’m going to say two — first two that came to mind.

Number one is the wildfire bill, and maybe that’s because of what we saw in the north this summer. We were some of the first people to be able to get back into Denare Beach once the okay had gone out to do so, and that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Two things: the devastation, which is on a scale that I can’t even describe. I know some people have seen the pictures, I had seen some of the pictures before, it didn’t compare to the real life.

But also that sense of community spirit. When we were coming into town, the first thing people were doing, after assessing everything that they’d lost, was put a ‘Welcome Back’ sign on. And I just thought that encapsulated the resilience of people in the North, people in this province — they were digging in, helping out their neighbours, and they deserve a plan.

They deserve to have their voices heard. Our bill would create a wildfire strategy that would be updated every year with input from from those on the front line, and make it truly public. We need a plan, but we also need to restore trust with people, because as angry and upset as people were, the number one thing I heard from them is we need to ensure that there’s a plan in place so this doesn’t happen to any other community again. And that’s what that that bill is for.

The other one that came to mind right away was the rent control bill, something that is meant to and would address top of mind issue for the 300,000 renters that we have in this province.

The impact of there being no controls when it comes to rent increases, no effective measures to keep what we’ve seen over the last 41 months, is month over month increases, sometimes people paying 20, 30, 40 per cent increases.

(The bill) would be hugely impactful, this would allow people to, you know, pay for their groceries again, to not have to worry about whether they’re going to keep a roof over their head, and really impacts largely seniors and students and working people in this province.

It’s not a full housing strategy, but it’s something that’s needed right now to ensure that we’re not seeing more homeless folks, or, as we’ve heard, seniors who have retired moving back in with their kids because they simply can’t withstand these increases — largely from out of province, large corporations that do it because they can, and then brag about how much money they’re making in Saskatchewan.

Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck. (Submitted)

What would you say is the biggest mistake the government made in 2025?

Beck: Again, the wildfires come to mind. But overall, I think the wildfires, obviously were a disaster and a real failure of preparedness on the part of the government, but it’s become across the board, where I see a government that is more and more content to spout lines to say, ‘hey, everything is a-okay. We’re the best ever’, despite all of the evidence to the contrary.

We know that people are struggling in this province. We know that now we’re up to one in four people not being able to access a family doctor. Ridiculous wait times, closures, I mean, the list goes on and on and on. And some of these things are complex and they’re difficult, but I see a government that’s given up trying to actually improve things, and is spending more and more time clapping for themselves and spinning lines.

One thing I hear a lot is, this is a government that has run out of ideas, that has become too focused on themselves and decisions made in small rooms and in places like Regina, and that is the exact opposite of what I want to see from from a government, should I have the privilege of of being the premier of this province. There are solutions out there, but they’re not going to be found in small rooms in Regina, they’re going to be built with the people of this province.

On the flipside of that, what do you think is the biggest success the government had in 2025?

Beck: I did see some moves on interpersonal violence. You know, that’s something, as a former director, a former manager at a women’s shelter, that is close to my heart. We’ll see if those those measures are effective, but it’s the first time I’ve heard them talk about that for a long time.

A good next step would be to heed the recommendations of the review panels that have called for more education in schools, to restore the consent and relationship healthy relationship teachings in our school system.

But that’s one thing that I can point to that at least is raising the right issue, and hopefully we see some some movement on our worst in the country, rates of domestic violence.

The Sask. Party was making a lot of your attendance in the fall, you missed at least 13 of 25 sitting days. At the end of the sitting the explanation was you were doing a lot of meetings and travelling across the province, but can you explain that?

Beck: First of all, I’d be really, really happy to compare schedules with with the premier, or any of the members on the other side.

We haven’t stopped since the last election, and there’s a balance between being in the house, but there’s a lot of work to do. If I’m going to be invited up to a mine in northern Saskatchewan, I’m going to take that chance, because I learn a lot when I’m out and about the province.

There are a lot of people who want to talk to us right now, and you can’t always fit it in. We try to pack as much as we can into 52 weeks, but sometimes you have to take those meetings during the session.

I suspect, if they were being honest in their quieter moments, this government would not for a second think that we didn’t hold them to account this session, because we certainly did, and we will continue to do that.

I also will continue to be around the province, meeting with people in every corner, because we’ve got a lot of work to do. The premier can say what he wants. I did ask him if he missed me at the end of session.

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“It’s clear that health care in Saskatchewan is worse than it’s ever been. I can’t imagine the pain, agony and frustration of the people waiting in these waiting rooms, I can’t imagine the distress of front line health-care workers,” said Meara Conway, the NDP’s health critic, on Wednesday morning.

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She released Sask. Health Authority (SHA) data that was leaked to the NDP of the capacity numbers for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday this week from all of the hospitals in Saskatchewan.

On Sunday, both Regina’s hospital ERs were near or more than 100 per cent capacity with a high or very high safety risk. The Riverside Health Complex in Turtleford, Victoria Hospital in P.A. and Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw were all at a very high or high safety risk.

On Monday, Royal University Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, Regina General Hospital, Riverside Health Complex in Turtleford, Victoria Hospital in P.A., Indian Head Union Hospital, and the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw were at a high or very high safety risk.

And Tuesday, the numbers showed Royal University and St. Paul’s Hospitals in Saskatoon, Regina General Hospital, the health complex in Turtleford, Victoria Hospital in P.A, the hospital in Indian Head, and the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Hospital in Moose Jaw all still at a high or very high safety risk.

All these hospitals listed wait times in the dozens of hours, with the longest wait time listed at the Regina General Hospital on Tuesday at 91 hours. However, a statement from Derek Miller, COO of the SHA, said those numbers measure the time from patient registration to discharge, not the wait time to be assessed by a doctor.

Miller’s statement didn’t give a reason why hospitals are seeing capacity issues, but did say hospitals across the province respond to ebbs and flows.

“The SHA monitors emergency department and acute care capacity across all hospital sites in the province on a continuous, real-time basis to support system-wide decision making, including transport decisions for patients who require a higher level of care or transfer to home hospital,” read Miller’s statement.

“This monitoring includes overall hospital occupancy, patients identified for admission and those being monitored in emergency departments. A scoring system is used to assess levels of risk and to guide appropriate actions at different thresholds.”

NDP Health critic Meara Conway blamed the ER capacity problems on the Sask. Party government, saying a number of failings have led to the overcapacity problems. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

Conway said the provincial government has touted the urgent care centre in Regina as a fix to hospital ER problems, but she pointed out that the Regina General ER was among the worst for capacity issues over these three days.

According to the health critic, there are a great number of ways the Sask. Party Government has failed the province and led to what she described as this “crisis”.

She gave the lack of home care and affordable senior care, and issues around adequate social assistance as examples.

Conway said there were things that could be done immediately to alleviate the pressure.

“Even this morning when I spoke to front line health-care providers at the Regina General, they’re like ‘here are three things we need to do immediately,’ but they’re not being done,” she said.

She called on the government to put together a plan to get the ERs out of this situation over the Christmas holidays.

When asked whether the capacity problems might be the fault of influenza and a surge of serious cases that’s been seen across the province, Conway said hospitals know there are surges every year at this time but it appears the SHA and government haven’t planned to deal with it.

“It’s incumbent upon this government to be prepared for that, and they’re just simply not,” said Conway.

The Health Minister’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment before publication time.

The Saskatchewan NDP has claimed the province’s deficit will rise by nearly $1 billion after $813 million of more spending was approved for SaskPower.

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On Thursday, Finance Minister Jim Reiter said the province’s current forecast for the deficit — $427 million — will not be affected by the supplementary estimates. He said the money was already included in the mid-year report.

“There’s the spending that you saw in there. There’s also the revenue that was up. There’s also the changes to crop insurance. That’s all impacted. That’s all already accounted for,” said Reiter.

He said the mid-year update is meant to provide transparency to the public on government finances, while the votes on the supplementary estimates are held to approve money that wasn’t included in the spring budget.

“The supplementaries you see, this is an annual occurrence. This happens all the time,” said Reiter.

During the mid-year update, Reiter said the revised deficit included the cost of not collecting the industrial carbon tax. The report also noted the province’s debt was set to rise by $962 million, and SaskPower’s portion of that was related to “lower net income and accelerated capital spending.”

The NDP was upset Crowns Minister Jeremy Harrison didn’t attend the committee meeting Tuesday evening to answer questions about where the money was going.

Harrison spoke to media on Wednesday, explaining the extra money would go to covering the expense of not collecting the industrial carbon tax from SaskPower customers, the cost of refurbishing and bringing coal-fired power plants back online and expanding the province’s power transmission system.

He did not give specific numbers, and the Sask. government didn’t provide a clear breakdown of how much money would be going where by publication time.