Vol. 104 No. 47
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Box 40, 102 3rd Ave West, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0
email: tip@sasktel.net
Grey Cup 101
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Phone: 306-948-3344 8-3 33 34 44
28 pages
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Sunday, November 24
Go Riders Go!
Saskatchewan posts strongest manufacturing sales for Àrst nine months of 2013
When all the world’s a wonder . . . Wee explorer, Drew Fick goes for a dangly-bit as Gramma Cheryl Amy smiles. The pair were at Biggar Central School’s Scholastic Book
Fair Family Night, November 13. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Families forced to fill gaps in gov’t health care, seniors care: NDP Families are having to take care of the most basic needs for their loved ones in hospitals and seniors care homes – filling gaps left by the government’s short-staffing, said NDP leader, Cam Broten. The issue of families providing basic care for their loved ones in hospitals and seniors care homes was dominant last week at the legislature as Broten brought, what he called, another shocking case to light in an effort to cause the government to address the problem. John Paul, 77 years old and in failing health, spends about eight hours every day at the Saskatoon Convalescent Home taking care of his wife’s basic needs. Paul said shortstaffing at the seniors care home means seniors wait long periods for help to get to a bathroom, but when
help doesn’t come they’re left for long periods of time in soiled underwear. He describes a resident who went 11 days without bathing; and an epidemic of falls caused by residents trying to get themselves to the bathroom. “The Pauls’ story, sadly, is one I’m hearing all over the province,” said Broten, Thursday. “I think of Carrie Klassen, who quit her job to fill in the gaps of the inadequate care her mom was getting in a Regina seniors care home. I think of Sylvia Phillips. Her family ran out of vacation days to be in the hospital with her in Saskatoon, so they had to pay $1,000 per week to hire private help just to ensure their mother was fed, helped to the bathroom and given the most basic level of care. I also think of Suzanne
Stewart, a retired nurse who described staffing levels in the hospital so low neither basic nor emergency cleaning was getting done. Her family had to clean her room before she had surgery.” Instead of strengthening health care and seniors care during the good economic times, the government changed the law to eliminate minimum standards for staffing and erase the minimum amount of direct-care time seniors in care receive each day in care homes, he added. “This government’s shortsighted cuts and changes are making things worse in hospitals and seniors care homes, and that has to stop,” said Broten. “Families are doing their part to care for and be there for their loved ones – they shouldn’t also have
to do the government’s job, providing basic healthcare services.”
September’s manufacturing sales numbers are the strongest of 2013, according to a new report from Statistics Canada. The province saw a 9.0 per cent increase over August 2013, totalling $1.3 billion. This was a recordbreaking month for sales and landed Saskatchewan in second place among the provinces. “This is great news that can be traced back to our economy and the strength that continues to build in our manufacturing sector,” Economy Minister Bill Boyd said. “At Agritechnica in Germany, I’m seeing firsthand the level of interest in our products, and more specifically our agricultural implements. Saskatchewan manufacturers have certainly set a standard in Canada and
around the world and we should be very proud of that.” On a yearly basis, Saskatchewan’s manufacturing sales jumped 10.5 per cent. Machinery manufacturing increased over that same period of time, growing 7.4 per cent and totalling $147.9 million. Agricultural machinery also experienced a boost, up 22.3 per cent over September 2012. “These strong September numbers mean that the remaining months of 2013 hold a lot of promise in this sector,” Boyd said. “Saskatchewan manufacturers aren’t just filling the demand that exists in the global marketplace – here at home, they are also helping to fill jobs, create opportunities and keep moving this province forward.”
Smoke damages Main Street building . . . Biggar Fire Department responded to an early morning fire on Main Street at the Parrish and Heimbecker location, Thursday, November 14. Staff vacated the building as firefighters entered to contain. A lot of smoke and water damage, but fortunately, no one was injured. Officials will continue to investigate the matter. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)