NDP, Sask. Party leaders focus on health care promises on Thursday

The NDP and Saskatchewan Party returned to the campaign trail this morning, again announcing health care related promises.

For the NDP, they are committing more than $10 million to address mental health care for families and to create a Saskatchewan opioid and crystal meth crisis response strategy.

NDP leader Ryan Meili says mental health patients are waiting more than 18 hours on average at the Dube Centre in Saskatoon, while the number of youth hospitalized due to mental health has doubled in the last decade.

Meanwhile, Sask. Party leader Scott Moe promised to make life more affordable for seniors.

Moe is promising to decrease the cost of ambulance services by over 50 per cent for seniors, increase the maximum amount of the Seniors Income benefit to $360 per month and hire 300 more continuing care aides.

180 of the care aides will be positioned in long-term care homes, while the rest will be added to provide home care services.

The cost of all three promises is in the $35 million range.

More from Play92