NDP Shadow Minister Brent Blakley (Social Services) was among those in Prince Albert on Monday. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Provincial politics

NDP shadow ministers plan two week tour of northern Saskatchewan

Feb 24, 2025 | 4:00 PM

Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Ministers are touring northern Saskatchewan to hear from northern residents and ensure they are represented when the Legislature reopens late on March 19.

The tour was launched on Monday in Prince Albert, which according to Statistics Canada. ranked fifth in Canada for crime severity. Employment in the region dropped by 1,400 jobs last month, giving provincial MLAs a list of issues to focus on.

The delegation includes April ChiefCalf (Housing) who noted the need to find and provide housing.

“We’ve heard that housing is a huge issue, especially with a government sitting on vacant housing units. Stable housing is key to recruiting and retaining skilled workers, especially in healthcare,” she said.

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Jordan McPhail (Northern Affairs) grew up in La Ronge and served on town council. He reiterated their goal is to make sure northern issues are brought back to the legislature in Regina.

“We are really truly going up there with no expectations. We’re there to listen and hear what the organizations and community members are facing and the struggles they are having every single day,” he said.

“A lot of the challenges Saskatchewan people face — especially the high cost of living and access to healthcare and good services — are magnified in the North,” added Brent Blakley (Social Services)

Following Monday’s press conference, the shadow ministers made several stops in Prince Albert including the sexual assault centre, New North, mobile crisis and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Forest Management.

Future stops in the weeks will also include La Loche, Stony Rapids and Wollaston Lake.

Brittney Senger (Community-Based Organizations) stated the issues facing Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan cannot be solved by government officials sitting in Regina.

“It takes meeting people wherever they are at and listening,” she said.

“Local leaders and frontline workers know what’s needed to move their communities forward. People in all corners of the province are tired of this government thinking they know best.”

From left to right: Brittney Senger, April ChiefCalf and Brent Blakley. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Concerns with the 811 health line

On the heels of concerns related to healthcare service closures under the Sask. Party government, the provincial NDP is also now sounding the alarm on Healthline 811, which was down for nearly 40 minutes on Saturday..

The essential 24-hour support line provides assistance to people who have issues related to health, mental health, and addictions treatment.

“People count on 811 for medical help. For most people, talking with a nurse over the phone is the fastest option when family doctors are in short supply and our emergency rooms are ranked last place in Canada for wait times,” said Vicki Mowat, Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Health. “For it to fail with no backup plan is unacceptable.”

According to a statement provided by the Ministry of Health, HealthLine 811 was unavailable due to a brief technical issue on Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 4:55 p.m. to 5:35 p.m..

“SaskTel, which hosts the HealthLine 811 service, quickly identified and resolved the technical issue. The short down time for HealthLine 811 did not impact access to emergency services,” they said.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell