MLA Nadine Wilson addresses anti-vaccination rally outside Sask. Legislative Building
A group of demonstrators gathered outside the Legislative Building protesting against public health measures and proof of vaccination requirements, ahead of Wednesday afternoon’s throne speech.
The rally, which started at noon, picked up momentum shortly after 1 p.m. as protesters began chanting for the premier to come out and address the crowd.
While Scott Moe did not answer those calls, independent MLA Nadine Wilson addressed the protesters.
The Saskatchewan Rivers MLA resigned from the Sask Party caucus last month after misrepresenting her vaccination status.
Wilson was pictured wearing an “I got my COVID-19 vaccine” sticker in the Legislative Assembly. However, party caucus chair David Buckingham later found out Wilson did not receive her vaccine.
In a statement issued after her resignation, Wilson said she can “no longer support the direction of the Saskatchewan Party government or follow the government with true conviction regarding the current health situation.
Daily cases are trending down – but so are testing numbers.
“We’re hoping that will continue into the future,” Premier Scott Moe said.
“If it doesn’t then we’re ultimately going to have to consider what our next steps might be.”
According to Angus Reid polling – 60 per cent of respondents say the Saskatchewan government is doing a poor job when it comes to handling healthcare.
And one-third say Moe’s government has done well dealing with the pandemic.
“No plan in this throne speech at all around how do we deal with the enormous backlog in therapies and surgeries that have been sidelined to deal with his fourth wave,” Ryan Meili, NDP opposition leader, said.
Modelling suggests roughly 20 thousand surgeries and procedures could be impacted due to service slowdowns.
While the Saskatchewan Health Authority says it’s not in a position to restart any of those services – Moe said transitioning testing and contact tracing to private companies could help in the process.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.