The Opposition NDP is calling on Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to apologize for the way he has handled the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In reacting to the new public health orders that were announced on Thursday, NDP leader Ryan Meili said it is a good first step, but it was measures that his party were calling for weeks before. 

As for Friday, an interim mandatory mask mandate was put into place for all public indoor gatherings that are expected to be in place until the end of October. 

On October 1, businesses such as restaurants, bars, gyms and entertainment venues will require a proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. 

This comes of the heels of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announcing emergency orders. 

“This is a premier who will do anything he can to avoid taking responsibility, who only does the right thing when his hand is forced,” Meili said. 

Meili pointed out that action needed to be taken as the hospitals are starting to fill up and people are dying. 

“Chief Medical Officer Susan Shaw emailed staff saying that they're having to institute ethical triage, which means exactly what you think it means,” Meili said.  

“Doctors having to make the choice between who will get care and who won't, between who will live and who will die.” 

During his press conference on Thursday, Moe said the province has been overly patient when it comes to those who are not vaccinated. 

Meili disagreed. 

“This isn’t patience. This is being passive. This isn't patience. This is reckless endangerment of the lives of Saskatchewan people,” he said. 

In the end, Meili and the Opposition NDP are asking the premier to apologize for his lack of leadership. 

“He owes an apology to every single person in this province for having refused to do the job he was elected to do, for having refused to lead and having let us all down in a moment of crisis.” 

Meili added that if the premier won’t apologize, he should resign.