Legislative Report
October 21, 2021

COVID-19 Update

Thank you to the people of Saskatchewan who have responded to the call to get vaccinated. Over 1.6 million doses of the vaccine have now been administered with nearly 85 per cent of those 12 years of age or older receiving their first dose. 

Getting vaccinated makes a difference when it comes to the pressures within our health care facilities. 70-80 per cent of the current hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated. The vaccine can not only help to prevent hospitalization but can also prevent long-term health conditions.

Further COVID-19 Public Health Measures came into play recently as more businesses were added to the list of places where Proof of Vaccination or a negative test, will be needed before entering.

• Seated dining in all restaurants including fast-food restaurants
• Liquor manufacturers conducting retail liquor sales
• Liquor stores with an integrated permit that also hold a liquor restaurant or tavern permit

Effective October 25, 2021, Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 vaccination booster program will be expanded to individuals aged 65 and older, individuals living in the far north, those in First Nations communities aged 50 years and older, health care workers and individuals born in 2009 or earlier with underlying health conditions who are extremely vulnerable. This is in addition to those who were already eligible such as residents 80 years of age and older.

With the delivery of 2.6 million rapid antigen test kits, the Saskatchewan Health Authority started to expand delivery to the general public. Routine, voluntary testing at home will help prevent asymptomatic transmission to those who are not able to be vaccinated. Self-tests are distributed for surveillance and will not be accepted for the negative test requirement.

In addition to the numerous COVID-19 vaccine clinics, flu clinics are also underway in the province. A new website called 4flu.ca is now live and will allow residents to book online as well as scheduling the COVID-19 shot at the same time.

Record Number of People Enjoying Saskatchewan Parks

Saskatchewan residents helped to set some new records for our Provincial Parks in 2021. With more people exploring close to home, over one million people entered our parks in the last year, breaking the previous record from 2020. That also helped to break a 2016 record for the number of camping nights spent in the park, with more than 400,000 nights reserved.

And don’t toss out those Provincial Park passes just yet. They are valid until the end of April 2022 and will allow you to enjoy our beautiful landscape during the winter. There will be Christmas tree-cutting programs in Cypress Hills, Pike Lake and Candle Lake are preparing for a Festival of Lights tour and Echo Valley has an ice skating park. Plus, there are all of the traditional outings to be enjoyed such as tobogganing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

New Saskatchewan Order of Merit Nominees Announced

And congratulations to the six newest members of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. An investment ceremony is planned to honour Mavis Ashbourne-Palmer of Regina, Michael Bishop of Kamsack, Albert Brown of Saskatoon, Marie-Anne DayWalker-Pelletier, C.M. from Balcarres, Hart Godden of Regina along with Solomon Rat of Regina as the 2021 inductees.