Estevan MLA Lori Carr says bringing healthcare services to rural Saskatchewan is a challenge, but one she is fully committed to tackling. Now three months into her role as minister of mental health and addictions, seniors, and rural and remote health, she said she is still adjusting to the position.
“It feels like I’ve been in the portfolio forever, but honestly, it’s only been three months,” Carr said. “So the transition is still truly taking place. It’s a lot to learn.”
She described it as a “heavy portfolio” due to the serious and complex nature of healthcare decisions.
“The issues we’re dealing with in healthcare are a lot different than, you know, parks, culture and sport, for example,” she said. “The seriousness of decisions being made and how that affects everybody in Saskatchewan—I take the role very, very seriously, and I’m truly starting to dig in.”
One of the top priorities for Estevan is securing an MRI machine, with 73 per cent of the fundraising goal met for this project.
“Our community is truly amazing, and the relationship we have with Emmanuel Health—who is spearheading this—is incredible,” she said. “Our hospital is a third-party provider, so Emmanuel Health has taken the lead on this, put forward a fantastic proposal, and committed to fundraising to get it going. They have truly stepped up.”
Carr is confident the final stretch will come together soon, bringing the long-awaited service closer to reality.
“I have no doubt they’re going to get there and that we’re going to see those services start sooner rather than later,” she said. “It really does speak to our community. There’s just so much going on recently, and I have seen fundraiser after fundraiser for individuals who need help. The money that’s being raised for them—it’s just amazing. I’m so proud to be from Estevan.”
Carr recalled when the hospital acquired a CT scanner about 10 years ago, calling it a game changer for the region.
“The arguments we used at that time were that we’re in the southeast corner, we’re in rural Saskatchewan, and people were having to drive hours to get these services,” she said. “Having them here has really saved people time, money—all of the above. The exact same arguments apply to the MRI, so we’re going to see those benefits moving forward.”
She added that recruiting and training professionals to operate the MRI has already begun, to ensure they are prepared when it becomes available.
While Estevan moves toward expanding healthcare services, other rural communities continue to struggle with disruptions, including the Galloway Health Centre and the Radville ER. The province has introduced a Health Human Resource Plan with targeted incentives to attract healthcare workers to underserved areas.
“That includes Estevan for specialized resources like registered nurses, doctors and specialists, but it also extends to the Radville's and Oxbows of the world, having those incentives in place to get them there,” Carr said. “The trick is trying to retain them.”
She said building a sense of belonging within a community is key to keeping healthcare professionals in rural areas long-term.
“That really is, once again, all hands-on deck,” she said. “The community needs to get to know them, welcome them, and make them want to stay longer than maybe what they initially signed up for. We will continue to do that work as we move forward.”
The province has introduced financial incentives for healthcare professionals willing to work in rural Saskatchewan. Registered nurses can earn up to $50,000 in incentives, while doctors can receive an additional $200,000.
“We do have those incentives in place to get people there—it’s just about finding the right person who wants to go,” Carr said.
While waiting for permanent positions to be filled, the province is relying on virtual care to provide additional support. The system allows healthcare staff in rural facilities to connect with virtual doctors for patient assessments.
“They can pick up the phone, call a virtual doctor and triage patients in that facility,” Carr said. “So we do have some resources in place to help augment services.”
In some cases, locum doctors—who work in a community for short-term periods—are being used to fill staffing gaps.
“Not the ideal situation, but something to fill that gap until we get a permanent position,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Carr said the province remains committed to strengthening healthcare in rural Saskatchewan and ensuring people in smaller communities receive the services they need.