The Opposition NDP is calling for the Saskatchewan Party government to implement gathering size limits immediately. 

The party is also asking for the release of recommendations made by Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab, as well as giving the Chief Medical Health Officer more independence to speak freely and implement necessary public health orders. 

Leader of the Opposition Ryan Meili said if Premier Scott Moe is going to ignore the advice of medical professionals, he needs to step aside. 

“His political interference has gotten in the way of a proper response to COVID-19. His choices have cost people their lives,” Meili said during a press conference on Thursday.  

“It's time for him to get out of the way. Let the grown-ups do the work and save people's lives and let Scott Moe go play politics somewhere else.” 

When it comes to the release of the Chief Medical Health Officer’s recommendations, Shahab declined to do so during a Provincial Emergency Operations Centre briefing on Wednesday, deferring to the government. 

Meili said the NDP has put in a Freedom of Information request to have the recommendations released, although he feels the government will try to block the request. 

“I am quite certain that this government will do everything they can to hide that information. Scott Moe doesn't want us to know that he looked at the modelling, that he got the recommendations from Dr. Shahab, and he chose the path that resulted in where we are today,” he said. 

“There's no question in my mind that Dr. Shahab has told Scott Moe and Paul Merriman that gathering restrictions were needed, and there's no question in my mind that they decided to ignore the top person when it comes to public health advice. They threw out his advice,” Meili would add. 

When asked about the length of time it would take to open up legislation to give the Chief Medical Health Officer more powers, Meili responded that there are models to look at from other provinces and that the legislative assembly will be sitting soon and the NDP would be willing to work with the government to pass the legislation as soon as possible. 

The Legislative Assembly begins its next session on Oct. 27 with the Throne Speech. 

Modelling released by the Saskatchewan Health Authority on Wednesday showed that it could be several months before ICU levels can be sustainable again if new public health orders are not implemented. 

Vicki Mowat, the Health Critic for the NDP, said the world is watching the Saskatchewan government’s response. 

“In recent weeks we have gone from being a national embarrassment to being an international embarrassment, and we know that the premier and health minister could have and should have acted sooner,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Meili also wanted to know why the public hasn’t been hearing from other Sask. Party MLAs. 

“There's also 46 other Sask. Party MLAs who are sitting on their hands and saying nothing and doing nothing to protect Saskatchewan people. It's time for Dustin Duncan, Gordan Wyant, Don Morgan to speak out and call for action,” he said.