Pressure on province to address food costs after scurvy cases

By Glynn Brothen

News of the 27 scurvy cases in La Ronge has reached Saskatchewan’s political realm, with opposition parties calling on the Sask. Party government to decrease the cost of living, while a local leader pushes for widespread testing.

Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, said she was surprised to hear the concerning results of the scurvy study conducted by local doctors. But the news sparked a motivation to tackle the issue head on by advocating for community members’ needs.

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“We will have to strategize. I’m grateful for the study that’s been done. It’s better to know than not to know,” she said. “I think it’s better to get tested. We have the mechanism to get tested. (We’re) just encouraging members to get themselves tested and get their children tested.”

Cook-Searson said she plans to discuss the issue of food affordability and accessibility with council, concerns reiterated on Tuesday at a Saskatchewan NDP news conference.

“Gas, groceries and all the basics have become more expensive — much more expensive,” said Jordan McPhail, the NDP critic for northern affairs.

“We’re hearing from people from every corner of the province who are struggling, choosing between heating their homes and putting food on the table. The situation is so bad in some communities that people are developing scurvy because they can’t afford to eat.”

McPhail is calling for cost of living relief from the provincial government in the form of a gas tax suspension and the removal of PST from groceries. To illustrate the food cost disparity in northern Saskatchewan, McPhail displayed a price tag photo of a Stoney Rapids grocer charging $18.09 for milk and $19.99 for a package of grapes.

Rose Buscholl, the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan, also released a statement blaming food insecurity for the scurvy cases and castigating Premier Scott Moe.

“This is not the 17th century and Saskatchewan is not a pirate ship,” she wrote. “The premier is fast becoming Nero fiddling on the roof as everything around him burns.”

Provincial communications officials said Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan’s minister of health, was unavailable for an interview. Instead, the provincial government supplied a statement noting basic grocery items such as meat, fish, eggs, milk and vegetables are already exempt from PST.

The statement added food prices fall under federal jurisdiction, but noted the Sask. Party will advocate for necessary changes and will continue to invest in highways to create a “reliable supply chain.”

The government also suggested the high cost of living for Saskatchewan residents was due in part to the federal carbon tax.