The big story this past week in the legislature was of the 鈥渉ush memo鈥� controversy.
On Tuesday, the NDP sent out a news release about about a memo from the Saskatchewan Health Authority obtained through a freedom of information request. According to the NDP鈥檚 news release, that memo instructed frontline workers not to speak publicly about problems in health care, in response to 鈥渁 number of instances of challenging that have not met communication standards.鈥� The NDP stated the memo instructed Saskatchewan doctors to stop advocating for patients or even communicating with their licensing body without SHA approval, and to edit controversial issues from meeting minutes 鈥渋f you do not want to see it in the newspaper.鈥�
NDP Leader Ryan Meili raised the issue in Question Period and that exchange with health minister Jim Reiter is recorded in Hansard.
Mr. Meili: 鈥� Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Everywhere I go in Saskatchewan, I hear from front-line workers who are deeply concerned about dangerous choices made by this government. They want the public to really know what鈥檚 happening in health care, in social services, in education. But they鈥檙e afraid to tell their story, scared of retribution from a vindictive government desperate to hide from their failures. Now, Mr. Speaker, in health care in particular, that fear, that culture of secrecy has nurses and doctors too afraid to speak out about what鈥檚 really going on in our hospitals.
Today we鈥檙e releasing a Saskatchewan Health Authority memo that further reveals this government鈥檚 allergy to transparency, Mr. Speaker, a memo that sends physicians and others the clear message that challenging the SHA [Saskatchewan Health Authority] talking points is unacceptable.
We know there are problems in our hospitals, Mr. Speaker. To the Premier: why is the SHA sending memos telling front-line staff to be silent about their concerns?
The Speaker: 鈥� I recognize the Minister of Health.
Hon. Mr. Reiter: 鈥� Mr. Speaker, another secret memo, Mr. Speaker, like the ones last week that are widely distributed to staff everywhere. Mr. Speaker, I don鈥檛 even know what memo the member opposite is talking about. No direction has come from my office or from this government to muzzle anyone. Mr. Speaker, if he鈥檇 like to either table the memo or explain what he鈥檚 talking about, I鈥檇 be pleased to answer.
The Speaker: 鈥� I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr. Meili: 鈥� Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This memo criticized physician leaders who have communicated directly with external agencies, external agencies like the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. And it goes on to say that this external communication has led to, and I quote, 鈥渄iscordant messaging.鈥� Discordant messaging, there鈥檚 some Newspeak for you, Mr. Speaker. That鈥檚 code. That鈥檚 code for don鈥檛 tell the public the truth about the real problems in our emergency rooms, our wards, our long-term care homes.
Doctors are obliged to advocate for their patients. It鈥檚 our professional duty. And the public has a right to know the truth. To the Premier: will he make it clear to health care workers that they鈥檙e not just permitted, but encouraged to advocate on behalf of their patients to fight for the resources they need to do their job, or does he stand behind this memo telling them to be silent about their concerns?
The Speaker: 鈥� I recognize the Minister of Health.
Hon. Mr. Reiter: 鈥� Mr. Speaker, neither the Premier or I have even seen the memo that he鈥檚 talking about. So, Mr. Speaker, I鈥檓 going to take that under advisement, based on some of the so-called top secret, earth-shaking memos that they鈥檝e released in the past, Mr. Speaker. I don鈥檛 know what that memo says but, Mr. Speaker, it wasn鈥檛 as a directive from myself or from the Premier鈥�
The debate resumed Wednesday as Meili once again raised the issue of the health authority memo.
Mr. Meili:鈥�...聽 So my question for the Premier: will he today make it clear that honesty about what鈥檚 really happening in health care is more important than covering his own political hide, or will he continue to put politics before people?
The Speaker: 鈥� I recognize the Minister of Health.
Hon. Mr. Reiter: 鈥� Mr. Speaker, that鈥檚 just wrong on so many levels. Mr. Speaker, when the member introduced the memo in the House yesterday, neither the Premier nor I had seen it before. We did not direct that memo. Mr. Speaker, I do believe it was poorly worded. It could have been worded much more clearly. But the SHA did a statement to the media which clarified that, Mr. Speaker. In part it says:
The SHA does not have a policy, nor was there ever any intent to restrict staff or physicians from exercising their right to free speech. We recognize additional clarity is required. We will be working in the following days to ensure staff and physicians are clear on the intent of this memo鈥�
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Mr. Meili: 鈥� 鈥� This government is letting people down, letting down the workers on the front line, and letting down the health of Saskatchewan people. Does the Premier believe that the people of Saskatchewan deserve a government that鈥檚 willing to fix hallway medicine, or is he happy with one that simply sweeps it under the rug and does everything they can to hide the information from the public?
The Speaker: 鈥� I recognize the Minister of Health.
Hon. Mr. Reiter: 鈥� 聽鈥� Mr. Speaker, this is just . . . It鈥檚 completely wrong. I mentioned about meeting with the Leader of the Opposition before he was elected in government. I met with him and a colleague of his 鈥� Dr. Stuart Skinner I believe his name is 鈥� who were advocating on behalf for their HIV [human immunodeficiency virus] patients. Mr. Speaker, as a result of that and many other conversations and many other policy decisions, we became, I believe, the first province in the country to universally cover HIV medication.
Mr. Speaker, was that member scared? Was he scared for his job at the time, Mr. Speaker? I don鈥檛 think so.
The Speaker: 鈥� I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr. Meili: 鈥� Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It鈥檚 absolutely true. I鈥檝e spoken up as an advocate on health issues over and over again, and I won鈥檛 stop today. It鈥檚 also absolutely true that my colleagues at that time and my colleagues today and so many other front-line workers experience the fear of speaking out. They鈥檙e worried that funds will be cut from their programs. They鈥檙e worried that they will lose their jobs. And you know what? It seems like there鈥檚 someone . . .
[Interjections]
The Speaker: 鈥� Order. Order. I recognize the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr. Meili: 鈥� Mr. Speaker, it seems there鈥檚 someone else who鈥檚 afraid to speak out today. Maybe he got a hush memo from the folks who are really running the show on that side.
So my question for the Premier: how does he feel about the fact that his government has a reputation for intimidating front-line workers into silence?
The Speaker: 鈥� I recognize the Minister of Health.
Hon. Mr. Reiter: 鈥� Mr. Speaker, I know the Premier very well, and I think of any fears he may have, the Leader of the Opposition is not one of them.
