Emotions run high in legislature
’How dare you say that!’ says Meili, as NDP accused of wishing pandemic hit harder
REGINA Opposition Leader Ryan Meili erupted during question period on Thursday as Saskatchewan’s health minister accused the NDP of being “disappointed” that the COVID -19 pandemic didn’t hit the province harder.
The fiery exchange came as the NDP hammered the government on why a health region disposed of about 166,000 expired N95 masks in 2014, instead of properly rotating its supply in a pandemic storage room in the basement of Regina General Hospital. NDP health critic Vicki Mowat connected that “mismanagement” to inventory challenges health officials reported this March during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During question period Thursday, Health Minister Jim Reiter responded that the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) never ran out of personal protective equipment as health workers fought COVID-19. The SHA always had roughly 30 days supply or more, he said.
“It almost seems like the members opposite are disappointed that COVID didn’t hit Saskatchewan harder,” he said.
Meili, who is a medical doctor and renewed his licence to practice during the pandemic, slammed on his desk immediately after Reiter made that remark.
“That is offensive!” he called out. “How dare you say that!”
He said Reiter was insinuating that the NDP wanted people “to get sick and die.” The NDP later raised a point of order alleging that the remark was unparliamentary for being “offensive,” but Speaker Mark Docherty let it slide.
NDP house leader Cathy Sproule said it was the worst thing she had heard Reiter say. Mowat later demanded that Reiter apologize.
After the debate, Reiter walked back his remark in a scrum with reporters. He said he never meant to suggest that the NDP wanted people to get sick or die. He said he chose his words “poorly.” He said there was a “misunderstanding.” He added that he plans to speak to Meili directly, but he did not commit to apologize.
“It got very heated in there, and a lot of heckling,” he said. “I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I probably overstated that. The debate was about PPE, not about people getting sick.”
Reiter said it’s easy to tell from the tone of debate that an election is on the way. Thursday was the second last day of a session that has already seen tense exchanges, including an obscene gesture from Meili last month.
In response to NDP criticism about the discarded masks, Reiter acknowledged that the process should have been different. He said it is changing.
“Officials are putting plans in place and refining the plans that are in place to ensure that pandemic supplies are available and on hand and before expiry they move into the mainstream, and are used and replaced with newer things,” said Reiter.