REGINA - Here is a rundown of what to expect today as the Legislature special sitting resumes for another week:
On Monday, the Legislature resumed again at the usual time of 1:30 p.m. for the special sitting on the government's Parents Bill of Rights legislation, the bill that would require schools to obtain parental consent for gender based name changes of kids under age 16.
First reading took place last Thursday and the government had proposed sitting from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. But the Opposition responded with NDP house leader Nicole Sarauer speaking for almost two hours to run out the clock on the day's proceedings, forcing the procedural motion to Monday.
It is anticipated the procedural motion will be dealt with at some point and that debate will begin on the legislation. However, it appears more procedural delaying tactics are under way from the Opposition as both Sarauer and their deputy house Leader Meara Conway have been speaking, so the Legislature may not get to the debate today. The government has been proposing a maximum of 40 hours of debate on the bill.
In other provincial news today, the opposition New Democrats were in Saskatoon again raising the issue of overcapacity in health care.
Health Critic Vicki Mowat and Rural and Remote Health Critic Matt Love were pointing to issues at Royal University Hospital where 88 patients were waiting to be transferred to a different bed and 41 patients in the ER where was out of bed. They also criticized the government again for convening a special sitting on "the removal of human rights of students in Saskatchewan schools," according to their news release, instead of addressing the health care issue.
In a news release Love stated that "instead of calling for an emergency debate to fix our healthcare system, the Sask. Party has decided to focus all their time on pronouns in schools. The only way we’re going to fix healthcare in this province is with a new government.”
While NDP critics were in Saskatoon, Premier Scott Moe and several members of the government caucus were in Regina for the sod turning to mark the start of construction of the Regina General Hospital Parkade.
The parkade will be built in the northwest portion of the existing visitor parking lot of the hospital, with the facility including a total of 1,005 stalls with 873 stalls in the parkade and 132 surface stalls. It amounts to a net increase of 686 parking stalls.
“The Regina General Hospital Parkade project has been designed to enhance accessibility and convenience for all who access the facility," Saskatchewan Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Andrew Will said in a news release. “The parkade project is also a clear demonstration of the shared commitment of the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Government of Saskatchewan to the safety and well-being of our patients, visitors and dedicated staff.”
Stay tuned for more stories on the events involving the Legislature at SASKTODAY.ca.
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