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REGINA —
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says the province’s healthcare workers are needed for the pandemic response here and cannot be sent to aid with Ontario’s situation.
Premier Doug Ford’s government has reached out to every province and territory asking for help with healthcare resources. The majority would be deployed to the Greater Toronto Area, according to a letter from Ontario’s Ministry of Health.
The request for healthcare workers includes:
- 500 Nurses (ICU/Critical Care/recovery room/general)
- 100 Respiratory Therapists
- 10 Perfusionists
- 10 Anesthesia Assistants
Following Question Period on Friday, Moe said his government received the formal request this morning, but added Saskatchewan needs its healthcare workers at home right now.
“We just don’t have the capacity to start even talking about loaning our healthcare workers out for a period of time to other provinces,” Moe said. “They’re quite busy and rightfully so putting the priorities of Saskatchewan residents first and foremost.”
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney similarly said Friday his province could not spare healthcare workers.
“Our Saskatchewan healthcare workers are quite busy here at the moment not only offering regular healthcare services that would be offered in our facilities but also offering elevated healthcare services to folks that have COVID in our healthcare facilities,” Moe said, noting frontline workers are also active in testing facilities, vaccine distribution and long term care.
Moe said the province would formally respond to the Ontario request sometime Friday.
With files from CTV News Toronto’s Colin D’Mello
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