Saskatchewan NDP MLA Keith Jorgenson says rural communities are facing mounting healthcare challenges, and the province's lack of transparency is putting lives at risk.
The Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood representative and NDP associate critic for healthcare is touring more than 20 communities this summer, meeting with residents and frontline workers in areas hit by emergency room closures and staff shortages.
"Some nights, we’ve seen 12 ERs closed across the province," said Jorgenson during a stop in Kindersley. “The government and SHA aren’t communicating which hospitals are closed or which are relying on virtual care. If you’re facing a life-or-death situation, you need to know what kind of help is actually available.”
The tour includes stops in Kindersley, Rosetown, Radville, Estevan, Gravelbourg, Swift Current, and Maple Creek, among others. Jorgenson says service disruptions are often caused not by lack of recruitment, but by staff burnout and attrition.
"People are leaving faster than they can be replaced,” he said. “Every single disruption I’ve seen this summer happened because someone already working in the community left—and no one filled the gap.”
He also criticized what he sees as a lack of accountability by government representatives.
“One community we visited, Kipling, has had its hospital closed for more than 21 days, with no reopening date,” said Jorgenson. “Why isn’t the local MLA there? Why isn’t the health minister helping these communities through a crisis?”
While Jorgenson supports virtual care for routine appointments, he warned it cannot replace in-person emergency services—and that residents deserve clear, reliable information about when and where those services are available.
“It’s absurd that someone having a heart attack might have to check a town’s Facebook page to find out if the ER is open,” he said.
Jorgenson urged residents to contact opposition MLAs to share their experiences, adding that the Saskatchewan NDP is committed to pushing for greater transparency and support for healthcare workers.
“Better is possible,” he said. “If this government can’t deliver it, people deserve to choose one that can.”