“At first there didn’t seem to be a plan in place at all to deal with H1N1 which is why I raised the issue publicly,” Junor said. “Now it would seem that every day we have new and conflicting information about vaccinations and other preparations which is causing confusion for too many people.”
Forbes questioned if the Social Services Ministry has a plan to deal with an outbreak should it occur in a group home or shelter and said staff compliments at these sites across the province are already stretched to the limit. He said the problem could become even more acute for sites in rural communities where already a limited number of people operate the facilities.
“I would like to know, on behalf of the people who access these essential and sometimes life-saving programs, that there is a plan in place to ensure that services will not be interrupted should we be faced with a flu pandemic,” Forbes said. “The Wall government has a responsibility to provide not only a high quality of daily services at these facilities but to also prepare for any eventuality that could cause disruption.”
Forbes also noted that while the suggestion from health officials has been to stay home from work if one develops flu-like symptoms, this is simply not possible for many workers in the health and social service CBO sectors who lack employment benefits such as sick leave. He said many employees at CBOs are struggling with low wages to begin with and can’t afford to be away from their jobs.
“While we believe it’s sensible advice to those who can afford it and for those who have benefits to stay home while they recover, what is the Wall government doing to assist those that don’t have those benefits?” Forbes asked. “The lack of information and assistance regarding the government’s pandemic preparations continues to concern too many families in our province who either provide or receive essential services in our communities.”
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The Wall government is spending $49,000 a month for a former Republican Ambassador's advice on how to talk to the Obama White House.
"Using reserve funds to balance the provincial budget isn’t so bad after all."
- Saskatchewan Party Leader and Premier, Brad Wall
Another bad decision by the Wall Government...
May 6, 2010
They don't know of care that cutting the Dutch Elm Disease monitoring and cleanup program, which was costing the government about $500,000 a year, would end up costing municipalities much, much more in combating the spread of the disease that threatens more than 70 per cent of the City of Regina's deciduous trees - not to mention the outrage amongst voters at the possibility of one of the biggest urban forests in Canada being lost thanks in part to the provincial government's neglect. -The Prairie Dog
