The extraordinary developments of this past week have shocked many as the Saskatchewan government struggles to handle case numbers that have overwhelmed the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). It has become necessary for SHA to request aid from any source which is not itself overwhelmed. This includes other provinces, US states, and the federal government, which has sent a military response.
MLA Greg Lawrence, who represents Moose Jaw Wakamow, had the following to say in response to a MooseJawToday.com request for comment:
Question (Q) – The SHA has been forced to begin transferring ICU patients to Ontario, do you have any comments on that development?
Greg Lawrence (GL) – “Well, it was with patient care in mind that the SHA began transferring patients out of our province, because of the pressure on our health care system which is compromising patient care. So the transfers are being done with the best healthcare in mind.
“70-80% of patients in the hospital are unvaccinated. This has created pressure in the hospital system and on health care workers.”
Q – What are your thoughts in regards to provincial efforts to encourage vaccination?
GL – “Looks like vaccination is the only way out of this. Encouraging vaccinations is the way to go. That’s how we’re going to get through COVID-19.”
Q – The province has announced that it has requested any help available from other provinces, US states, and the federal government, what do you have to say about that?
GL – “The provincial emergency operations centre has submitted a request for additional federal resources to address hospital capacity challenges. Our shortage isn’t physically bad, it’s the people to staff the beds that we’re missing. We have hospital capacity, but the shortage is on the expertise needed for our ICU beds.”
Q – Is there a reluctance to ship staff to us?
GL – “I think everybody is underneath this stress. This is not a Saskatchewan problem, it’s a world problem with the way the pandemic has rolled itself out.”
Q - The Moose Jaw City Council recently voted to require either proof of vaccination or a weekly negative test from city employees, but they also decided that the city would pay for those tests for the rest of the year. How do you feel about that?
GL – “Kudos to the city, good for them for rolling out that program. Keeping our citizens safe is paramount, and I believe that’s as much my job as it is the city’s job to make sure people are safe.”
Q – How would you respond to comments that the city paying for tests will reduce pressure on city employees to get vaccinated?
GL – “It’s entirely within the city’s purview to do that. That’s their job, and I’m not going to presume as an official at another level to tell the city what to do.”
Moose Jaw residents who want to get in touch with their local MLA can find Greg Lawrence’s contact information here.
