Meili warns of Sask. Party healthcare cuts at Saskatoon campaign stop

Ryan Meili wants to know how many healthcare jobs a Saskatchewan Party government would cut.

Meili spoke to reporters outside the Saskatoon Community Clinic on Saturday to question how healthcare cuts in Alberta could affect plans in Saskatchewan.

Earlier this week, Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro detailed a plan that could see between 9,700 and 11,000 Alberta Health Services employees laid off.

“Conservative parties always do the exact same thing,” Meili said. “They cut and privatize in their first two years of government, and then they pretend they won’t do that anymore as an election is coming.”

Meili suggested similar steps could be taken in Saskatchewan considering his competitor’s track record.

After being re-elected as the majority party in 2016, the Sask. Party introduced a series of cuts and eliminated the Saskatchewan Transportation Company in 2017.

“We don’t need to look into the future to see what’s coming, we only need to look next door at Alberta,” Meili said.

“Jason Kenney lied and then he cut anyway. His buddy Scott (Moe) will follow his example.”

Meili pledged an NDP government would invest in healthcare, including a plan to hire many of the people being driven out of jobs in Alberta.

He also promised not to cut jobs and move away from a two-tier, privatized healthcare system if he is elected on Oct. 26.

Since 2007, the Sask. Party has taken in almost $87,000 from private healthcare corporations, including $34,738.20 from companies based in Alberta, according to a news release from the Saskatchewan NDP.