Public health orders to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are coming to an end in Saskatchewan.
Premier Scott Moe said the requirement to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for businesses, workplaces and other public venues will end on Feb. 14.
The public health order requiring the use of facemasks in indoor public spaces will remain in place until the end of February.
“Proof of vaccination has been an effective policy, but its effectiveness has run its course,” Moe said Tuesday.
“The benefits no longer outweigh the costs. It’s time to heal the divisions over vaccination in our families, in our communities and in our province. It’s time for proof of vaccination requirements to end.”
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili said he doesn’t know if this is the right move at this time by the province.
“Scott Moe is not giving us the modelling. He’s not giving us regular updates on the data. We are not able to honestly say whether that’s the right policy,” Meili said.
“Simply put, he’s not giving us the ability to know the truth of whether this is the right decision right now.”
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The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour came out against the decision, saying that ending proof of vaccination will put workers at risk.
“We all want the pandemic to end, but we need to remain vigilant to make sure that workers are kept safe,” SFL president Lori Johb said in a statement.
“By removing proof of vaccination requirements, workers are at greater risk of contracting the virus.”
Moe said it is time to take the next step in returning to a normal life.
“As we shift to living with COVID-19, there is a continuing need for personal responsibility for self-monitoring, self-testing and self-management,” Moe said.
“It will be important for individuals to assess their own risk and comfort levels, and to take appropriate action if they are unwell.”
Divisions within the province also need to be healed, Moe said.
He said the time to judge people based on their vaccination status or whether they are wearing or not wearing a mask needs to end.
“It’s time for us to come together as families, as friends, as communities, as a province and as a nation, and it’s time for us to reach out and support one another,” Moe said.
“It’s time for each of us as individuals now to make a conscious effort to treat everyone in our daily lives that we encounter equally.”
Meili said the only divisions in the province are those created by Moe.
“This is someone who is seeing the risk in his own party of a split between the hard right and the centre-right, and he’s decided to take a hard right turn,” Meili said.
“And that is very disturbing for the future of Saskatchewan. That is not what’s good for Saskatchewan people.”
Saskatchewan was the first province to announce plans to lift all COVID-19 restrictions.
More to come
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