SHARE ON: |
| |
| |
 |
 |
|
|
A Saskatchewan physician and public policy advisor, as well as the NDP Opposition, are criticizing the province’s decision to ask U.S. states for COVID-19 assistance before asking the Canadian government.
On Monday, Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency president Marlo Pritchard said the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre reached out to several U.S. states and Canadian provinces for assistance.
“Basically, we have sent requests to much of North America to identify any ICU-skilled workers or perfusionists that may be deployable to Saskatchewan,” said Pritchard.
The jurisdictions include Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario, Illinois, Montana, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Minnesota, Ohio, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
“To date, Montana, Michigan, North Dakota and Pennsylvania have indicated they cannot provide resources. We also know that Alberta and Manitoba are facing a similar situation regarding COVID as Saskatchewan, Pritchard said.
He said the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre asked the federal government for assistance on Monday, because the organization is unable to get it from emergency measures partners throughout North America.
Dr. Dennis Kendel, a physician and public policy advisor on health-related matters, said he was very surprised to learn the province would ask U.S. states before asking the federal government.
“It just didnt seem to me like a very logical approach to actually be exploring that rather than relying on our own system within Canada,” said Kendel.
Kendel said the province has minimized the severity of Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 situation and “dragged its heels in terms of asking the federal government for help.
“It’s a combination, I think, of political bias, and frankly, hubris, which means overconfidence that they could somehow just manage this themselves,” he said.
Vicki Mowat, NDP Opposition Health Critic, said the government has some major questions to answer.
“Why did the government ignore offers for help from the federal government for almost a month, instead calling U.S. states for help until the very day that they were forced to ship patients out of the province?” said Mowat in a press conference on Tuesday.
When asked if he had any regret is delaying the formal ask to Ottawa, Pritchard said on Monday he has been on calls with federal representatives for weeks and knows the resources are limited.
“We have to be realistic about it. We may be able to see an increase of two to five beds, but I can’t say that for sure and we have not received anything back from the federal government as of yet,” he said.
Premier Scott Moe said the provincial team has been working with the federal operations centre on a number of pandemic-related topics at the same time as the requests to other jurisdictions across North America.
“All of that was happening simultaneously, it wasn’t one before the other, it was all happening together,” said Moe. “And ultimately, all of those requests have been made.”
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
1 pm |
| 12 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 23 KM/H
GUSTING TO 29 KM/H |
|
|
|
2 pm |
| 12 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 24 KM/H
GUSTING TO 30 KM/H |
|
|
|
3 pm |
| 12 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 24 KM/H
GUSTING TO 30 KM/H |
|
|
|
4 pm |
| 12 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 24 KM/H
GUSTING TO 29 KM/H |
|
|
|
5 pm |
| 13 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 23 KM/H
GUSTING TO 28 KM/H |
|
|
 |
6 pm |
| 15 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 22 KM/H
GUSTING TO 27 KM/H |
|
|
 |
7 pm |
| 12 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: NNW 20 KM/H
GUSTING TO 24 KM/H |
|
|
|
8 pm |
| 9 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
WIND: N 15 KM/H
GUSTING TO 22 KM/H |
|
|
|
|
TODAY |
HIGH OF 15 ℃
LOW OF -3 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
|
|
|
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 19 ℃
LOW OF -1 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 21 ℃
LOW OF 13 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
 |
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 21 ℃
LOW OF 9 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 28 ℃
LOW OF 12 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
|
|
|
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF 26 ℃
LOW OF 16 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF 13 ℃
LOW OF 9 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 19 ℃
LOW OF 7 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
| NordVPN Mothers Day Sale - Save Up to 75% Off! |
| |
| Give the gift of online security this Mother’s Day with NordVPN. Save up to 75% on fast, secure, and private internet protection. |
| |
| Marketplace Deal Campaign:May 5, 2026 To May 13, 2026 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
CHASE BRYANT
TAKE IT ON BACK
01:04 PM |
|
 |
PETRIC
THE BEST
01:00 PM |
|
 |
HIGH VALLEY
PARADISE AND HURRICANES
12:57 PM |
|
 |
MAX MCNOWN
AZALEA PLACE
12:53 PM |
|
 |
DREW BALDRIDGE
DESERVE HER
12:50 PM |
|
 |
PRISCILLA BLOCK
PHONES AND RADIOS
12:47 PM |
|
 |
EASTON CORBIN
DAMN GIRL
12:41 PM |
|
 |
AARON PRITCHETT
HOLD YOU LIKE MY WHISKEY
12:38 PM |
|
 |
ASHLEY MCBRYDE
WOMEN AINT WHISKEY
12:36 PM |
|
 |
KANE BROWN
RESCUE
12:32 PM |
|
 
 
 |
