A bill presented by NDP Northern Affairs Critic Doyle Vermette in November 2019 was voted down on Friday afternoon at the Saskatchewan Legislature in Regina.
Bill No. 618 — The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act presented a new plan for suicide prevention province-wide, the second time that it was brought forward by the MLA for the Cumberland constituency. The opposition shared that Saskatchewan Party members voted unanimously against the measure.
Reacting to the bill’s defeat on Friday, Vermette said the government had the opportunity to support the bill, but he believes their actions speak louder than words.
“I’m exhausted, I’ll be honest with you. I’m tired, I’m hurt, I’m angry,” Vermette told reporters. “I feel so much passion for the families that have lost loved ones, who came to this assembly asking the government, ‘We have a crisis. Please, Indigenous people are suffering and we’re asking for help.’”
While Vermette has attempted to introduce bills for a suicide strategy on two occasions, the NDP said this is the first time they have been able to force the document to a vote.
Vermette said there was no reason for why the bill could not be supported by government MLAs.
“We offered to amend it, I offered whatever I could to let them support this,” he explained. “I’m so upset and emotional. I’m tired, I’m drained.”
This was after a suicide prevention plan was announced by the provincial government on May 8, one that Health Minister Jim Reiter calls a plan that will continue to grow.
Reiter said he has spoken about this issue with Vermette several times, however he feels the suicide prevention plan announced by Rural and Remote Health Minister Warren Kaeding has better policies.
“The intent of his bill was to move forward with a suicide prevention plan. We’ve done that,” said Reiter. “We just think the policy is more flexible, we don’t think it needs to be in legislation but I do not question the sincerity and intent of his bill.”
The NDP is worried about the Sask. Party’s strategy showing no additional funding for mental health supports in the province.
