With concerns of the Omicron variant growing, the provincial opposition are saying the Saskatchewan government is not providing the leadership that is needed to guide the province through the fifth wave of the pandemic.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili noted that the Premier is creating a mixed message with Dr. Shahab recommendations of limited indoor gathering not being followed up with further action.

“The message they’re sending to the public don’t take this seriously” says Meili, “at the same time , the Chief Medical Health Officer is saying to take it very seriously and so absolutely I see people throwing up their hands saying that we don’t know how to respond to this and just going on with their lives without the added pressure that is really needed at this time.”

The Premier is ignoring the residents and the advice of the medical health experts in the province according to Meili. “Just shows that we got a Premier who isn’t listening to the experts, has ignored medical health officers, has ignored Dr. Shahab, and it’s really damaging, it sends mixed messages, it means people are seeing a situation that is minimized or downplayed, we’re not seeing the response that we should to keep people safe.”

Restrictions on indoor gatherings is something that should have been put into place weeks ago according to Meili. “When you got the Chief Medical Health Officer out there telling people don’t gather should have those restrictions to back those up, but unfortunately Scott Moe will always put politics ahead of people, as a result we’re going to see a far worse fifth wave than we needed to because of his choices.”