The Saskatchewan NDP called out the province’s COVID-19 strategy, saying they failed to contain the spread and protect jobs.

Their comments come after a StatsCan report showed Saskatchewan with the worst job record in the country.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili says the StatsCan report, and the latest COVID-19 numbers have left the province in a rough spot.

“I’m just thinking about all of the people out there who are out of work and are wondering what’s next when there isn’t work for them,” said Meili. “And all those who have lost loved ones, who are waiting for someone who is in the ICU or the hospital right now, hoping they’ll come home. It’s really sad to see us in this state as a province, I want us to be doing so much better.”

According to the latest StatsCan numbers, Saskatchewan has lost 23,000 jobs since February 2020.

Trade and Export Minister Jeremy Harrison says Saskatchewan has boasted one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country during the pandemic.

He says does acknowledge the province is losing jobs, adding the province is doing everything it can.

“I acknowledge we have lost jobs, and that is not a good thing,” said Harrison. “That’s why we are going to be continuing to work very, very hard to get every single one of those jobs back, which we are committed to doing by businesses working with companies, putting in place economic measures, which will show success and have shown success.”

Meili says the government has pushed this “false narrative” of having to either save jobs or lives, adding that if things are done properly, both can be taken care of.

“If you act quickly in a short, determined, circuit-breaker, you bring Covid under control, and then you allow people to return much more quickly to their normal lives,” said Meili. “Which allows the economy and local businesses to rebound much more quickly.”