Your Saskatchewan Party Government continues to increase investment in health care for the people of our province. In all my years as your MLA, health care has always been the highest provincial budget expense. The 2019-20 Ministry of Health budget invested a record $5.55 billion in health care programs and services – an increase of $196 million or 3.7 per cent over the previous year, and up 60 per cent since 2007-08. Health care will continue to be a top priority in the upcoming budget later this month.
Recent announcements are evidence of progress being made to improve health care in Saskatchewan. The opening of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital last fall brings specialized care to babies and youth. The Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital opening freed up space from the previous Pediatrics Unit at the Royal University Hospital, creating 46 new permanent acute care in-patient beds that were opened March 9 in Saskatoon.
In addition, $10 million in new funding was invested last October to lower surgical wait times. To help address increasing demand and wait times for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the province has invested in adding capacity and expanded hours of operation for MRI services. For any Moose Jaw resident who had to travel to, and try to park at the Regina General Hospital for health appointments, the plan to explore a parkade for that facility is also welcome news.
Quality health care in Saskatchewan is also supported through the generosity of community organization contributions. Since its beginnings almost 35 years ago, the Moose Jaw Health Foundation has raised over $38,000,000 for equipment to help medical professionals save lives.
The Government recognized the work of the Kinsmen Foundation and Telemiracle by proclaiming last week “Telemiracle Week” in Saskatchewan. Telemiracle Week culminated with Kinsmen Telemiracle 44 at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina.
All the money raised at Telemiracle is spent in Saskatchewan, helping people with mobility, cognitive or health challenges. Telemiracle has raised over $134,000,000 over 43 years, more money per capita than any other telethon in the world. Submission of this column for printing was prior to Telemiracle 44, however I am confident the people of Saskatchewan will overwhelmingly support this event again. Thank you to the Kinsmen/Kinette Clubs, and especially those members from Moose Jaw who volunteered to help make Telemiracle 44 a success.
The Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs are part of a great group of service clubs that do so much to make our communities better places to live. The Premier’s Service Club Award established in 2013 has recognized the dedication and charity of the province’s service clubs. The Government of Saskatchewan is accepting nominations for the 2019 Premier’s Service Club Award.
In order to be eligible for the Premier’s Service Club Award, nominated groups must be voluntary, non-profit service clubs or fraternal organizations where people meet regularly to fundraise for other organizations. Their mandate must be to better the lives of the people of Saskatchewan.
The nomination deadline for the award is April 15, 2020. To nominate a group for the Premier’s Service Club Award, or for more information, visit www.saskatchewan.ca/honoursawards. I encourage you to nominate one of our many deserving local service clubs.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
