On September 23, 2024, SEIU-West staff member Dennel joined the Speak Up Saskatchewan campaign and sent a letter to her MLA, who offered to meet with her.
Her MLA heard her concerns but insisted there was a place for privatized healthcare providers in addition to public healthcare. They agreed to disagree, but her MLA committed to passing her concerns to the Health Minister. Here is the text of the letter that she sent:
I'm writing to express my urgent concern over Scott Moe's push to privatize Saskatchewan's health care. In just the past year, over $60 million has been funneled from our public health system to private clinics, leaving our hospitals understaffed and ER wait times up by 30%.
You might think it doesn't matter where care comes from, but it does. Just look at Alberta - since expanding private health care, wait times for public surgeries have soared. This is the future Scott Moe is pushing us towards - a system where quality care depends on your ability to pay, not your health needs.
Privatization shifts focus from patient care to corporate profits, leading to longer waits, surprise bills, and declining care quality. This isn't just about politics; it's about protecting our public health care system, which is under direct threat.
I can't support a government that prioritizes corporate profits over our health. Our health should not be up for sale.
Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter.
Sincerely,
Dennel
On February 3, 2025, she received a response from the Minister of Health, Jeremy Cockrill. We asked members of our Political Action and Awareness Committee, along with members who attended our Build Power, Win Justice conferences, to make some corrections to the letter from Mr. Cockrill.
While this was a fun exercise in questioning the narrative using critical thinking skills, this also provides an excellent reminder that democracy is not a spectator sport. Participate in online campaigns, call or write to your MLA. They represent you in government and should be willing to listen to your concerns. If you are unsure who your MLA is, click here to find them.