Letters: Seasonal shots reveal decline in Sask. health care

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Recently, I went to one of the few available walk-in clinics to get my flu shot and covid booster. It took over two hours. I’ve had vaccinations at walk-in clinics before but this, sadly, served as an example of how much health care in this province has deteriorated.

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I felt for the public squeezing into the one room where everything from signing in, (with slips of paper), pre-waiting, the vaccinations and the post-waiting all took place. I felt sorry for the parents trying to keep their children occupied for so long. I felt sorry for the elderly trying to make their way.

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The nurses were doing their best at tables in the middle of the clamour trying to help soothe crying kids, explain things to the hard of hearing, administer shots and record data. Their dedication is amazing.

Yet the question has to be asked is this the best we as a province can do? This is, in my opinion, a symptom of the neglect from our provincial government. Understaffing, lack of facilities, playing down the importance of vaccinations all lies at the feet of our premier and minister of health.

They might point to lots of opportunities to make appointments for vaccinations in Saskatchewan. Sure if you want to wait a month or drive to Prince Albert. Perhaps the premier might start sending us to Alberta for vaccinations but, alas, Alberta’s premier doesn’t believe in them either.

Little wonder we trail the other provinces in most health care metrics.

Gerard Saretsky, Saskatoon

Fiscal snow approach sparks skepticism

So the city has decided it won’t be clearing our side streets because — get this — it wants to be “fiscally responsible.” The city’s declared criterion re side-street snow clearing is 25 centimetres. In other words, once a snow dump reaches 25 cm, the graders are deployed!

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Yes, but, well, not in this case. Our fearless managers and councillors — who knows who decides these things? — figure that, this time, with another five months of winter before us, they’re going to be fiscally responsible.

Do these people not realize that we live in a winter-dominated climate, where major snow dumps are virtually inevitable?

They’re OK with the prospect of $632 million for a new arena, $273 million on a refurbished convention centre, and $254 million for related projected road reconfigurations.

But they want to be fiscally responsible when it comes to the estimated $18 million to do our side streets … thereby benefiting every single citizen.

They like to say that the realization of the arena/convention centre won’t affect city taxes. I’ll believe that when pigs fly. And let it not be forgotten that federal and/or provincial financial assistance comes from the same source — taxation.

So a big thanks to our city hall brainiacs for nothing. If only citizens could vote in a referendum on this issue.

Wayne Eyre, Saskatoon

Worry about Canada instead of America

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A very simple reply to the letter “Americans face four years of madness” … What do you think is happening in our country? How about we focus on our country first!

Don Parenteau, Saskatoon

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