On Tuesday, NDP Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Addictions Betty Nippi-Albright accused the Sask. Party government of ignoring the drug crisis in Saskatoon, saying, “They are burying their heads in the sand while library workers and bus drivers step up and are forced to do the government’s job.”

The Minister presented a motion in committee to call on the government to treat the overdose crisis a public health emergency, but she says, “The Sask. Party government is missing in action and aren’t treating this crisis like a crisis.”

This comes after Saskatoon’s Fire Department reports attending to 935 overdose calls so far since the new year, which is more than eight calls per day.

When presented earlier this week, the Sask. Party immediately voted down the motion.

Nippi-Albright said, “Far too many young people are losing their lives to drugs, parents and communities are grieving, and everyone on the frontlines I’m hearing from, says that the issue keeps getting worse.”

There remains no indication that the government’s so-called emergency strategy to deal with these overdoses has had any impact.

The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on Scott Moe and the Sask. Party to make a plan that can help save lives and prevent overdoses, starting with declaring a public health emergency.