‘Test, trace and isolate:’ Concerned citizens gather at Merriman’s Saskatoon office

Chants about the province’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic — geared at Health Minister Paul Merriman and Premier Scott Moe’s golf game — rained down just off Eighth Street in Saskatoon on Wednesday.

It was a group of concerned citizens, to the tune of around 150, who occupied the front parking lot of Merriman’s office. A pair of anti-protesters were also in attendance.

Organizer Theresa MacKinnon said she hopes Moe and Merriman come forward with policies that will help stop the spread of COVID.

“We are not the silent majority. We are the vocal majority and we’re going to continue to call for our government to take action to protect the people of Saskatchewan,” MacKinnon told reporters following the event.

“We need to give public health services back their mandate to test, trace and isolate.”

If changes aren’t made by the province, MacKinnon said the group would be back next week. A second, similar gathering is expected Thursday at the Saskatchewan Legislature.

University of Saskatchewan professor Kyle Anderson speaks to a crowd of concerned citizens in the parking lot of Health Minister Paul Merriman’s office on Sept. 8, 2021. (Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

Kyle Anderson — an assistant professor of biochemistry, microbiology and immunology at the University of Saskatchewan — was one of the speakers during the event.

He said in the near future, there won’t be an ‘if’ on the province putting in new orders; he doesn’t think it’ll have a choice.

“There will be no choice … because this wave will reach the point where they have to act,” he said.

The Saskatoon region leads the province in active COVID cases with 966. Saskatchewan’s active COVID case count overall sits at 3,331 — a drastic change from just 650 reported 30 days ago on Aug. 9.

When asked if gathering the group goes against the overall message of the people, MacKinnon said there were thoughts of shutting down the event.

“Everybody came masked and were outside. We were able to social distance — to some extent,” she said. “If we have events like this in the future, we will do it in a larger space that allows for more distancing.”

Dennis Kendel is a retired doctor who’s now a consultant. He said it was important for him to attend Wednesday after hearing his colleagues say they are exhausted.

“The numbers just keep escalating and they don’t feel like they have support,” he explained.

In response to Wednesday’s event, titled “Concerned Citizens for COVID Action,” the provincial government said it continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Saskatchewan.

It said Moe and Merriman are speaking with the health authority regarding the spike in hospitalization numbers and the capacity of the health-care system.

The statement did hint more was coming soon.

“Premier Moe will have more to say on this in the coming days,” it said.