Trudeau faces protest during long-term care announcement in Saskatoon

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid a visit to Saskatoon Wednesday, announcing $32-million in funding to improve long-term care in the province, while protesters outside made themselves heard.

The money, specifically for Saskatchewan long-term care homes, is part of the $1 billion the federal government committed to spending in 2020. The funding will go towards long-term care necessities like infection protection, cleaning, and investments in infrastructure.

Trudeau said his government is making more investments to protect seniors due to the destitute conditions seen in some long-term care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Protesters at a St. Ann’s Senior Citizens’ Village in Saskatoon while Justin Trudeau visits the long-term care home on May 25, 2022. (Libby Giesbrecht/650 CKOM)

“These are things we need to do,” Trudeau said at St. Ann’s Senior Citizens’ Village, emphasizing the important role the federal government should play in “supporting the dignity and the opportunities of every Canadian” despite seniors’ care largely falling under provincial jurisdiction.

Trudeau said every Canadian should all be able to retire in dignity and safety.

“I think that’s something we all learned a few lessons on in this pandemic,” he said.

When asked if he’s let Canadian seniors down, given the significant number of deaths in long-term care across the country during the pandemic, Trudeau said every Canadian is asking those questions, showing the care our society has for its most vulnerable members.

Saskatchewan Seniors Minister Everett Hindley said the money will essentially cover costs the province has already incurred over the course of the pandemic, such as infection prevention and control and staffing challenges.

Hindley said it’s “not anything really new in terms of where that money is going to be going,” but said the province is grateful for the funding.

The Trudeau government doesn’t have a single sitting MP in Saskatchewan, but the prime minister said it’s important the federal government stays engaged with people in Saskatchewan.

“We know that people in Sask. always want to be part of building a better future for themselves, for their kids. They work hard every day to build that, and this government will continue to be a partner to them,” Trudeau said.

As Trudeau addressed the media in the enclosed outdoor area at the St. Ann’s care home, protesters gathered outside the entrance and honking horns could be heard as the prime minister spoke.

After appearing virtually at an event in B.C. Tuesday because of a disorderly protest outside, the Prime Minister shared stern words about harassment, racist insults and threats of violence hurled at Canadians exercising their right to peacefully protest.

“The safety of Canadians choosing to make their voices heard in politics should never be in question, as it was last night and as we’re increasingly seeing across the country,” Trudeau said. “Nobody should feel endangered or harassed because of their support for one political party or another.”

Justin Trudeau speaks at St. Ann’s Senior Citizens’ Village in Saskatoon on May 25, 2022. (Libby Giesbrecht/650 CKOM)

Trudeau also took a moment to offer his thoughts on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the deadliest school shooting in the United States since 26 people were shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

“As a parent, I’m going to have to go home to my kids, including my eight-year-old, and talk to them, again, about the inexplicable school shooting that we saw in the United States,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau, a former teacher himself, said his thoughts have been with the parents suffering “unbelievable losses,” and the traumatized teachers, students, staff and community members.

He called it “yet another incredibly senseless violent act in communities and schools.”

Trudeau said the government has stepped up gun control measures significantly in recent years for the safety of Canadians.