Saskatchewan on the right track: Shahab

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Saskatchewan on the right track: Shahab

The province is in good shape as far as attening the curve in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That was the message from Chief Medical Health O ce Saqib Shahab in the province’s daily press conference.

“In terms of the numbers it is really important to recognize through all of our efforts our curve remains at and our Reproductive Rate or RP has been low for two weeks or more. So that really means that we are managing to keep the curve at and it is trending downward so that is very reassuring,” Shahab said.

The province of Saskatchewan added one new case of COVID-19 on Monday, April 20 bringing the total to 316 cases reported. Each case has been con rmed. On Sunday the province reported two new cases and Saturday there six cases added to the provincial total, some, though, were from Fri- day’s news of an outbreak in La Loche. case. On Sunday one of the new cases is in the Saskatoon area. e other was in the far north. ere is still one pre- sumptive COVID-19 case that has yet to be con rmed.

“While that is reassuring, it still means that we have to continue doing everything we have been doing. And especially, it has been more than a month since we have been practicing physical distancing, we are diligently staying a home unless it is to go out

shopping and doing other things outdoors in a very considerate way,” Shahab said.

With the weather improving Shahab wants people to be able to enjoy weather in a responsible way as spring and summer arrive.

“But it is important to just remem- ber that as you are out and about maintain some of those key measures that have served us so well. So that means maintaining a distance of at least two meters while out and about and if you do meet friends, neighbours while out certainly agree to have a chat but maintain that two plus meter distance,” he said.

He also reminded people to avoid children mixing and playing games that involve handing objects back and forth.

“That could be very important, keeping children away from group settings,” he said.

He also reminded people to be careful in shared purposes like a crosswalk to keep social distancing and be cautious touching signal buttons. As well, you should avoid playground structures that are sealed off in cities and towns.

“In many cities the playground structures are still taped off so please respect that,” he said.

Researchers are still learning how the virus spreads in different conditions.

“Until such time as there is better information about outdoor play structures while you are out and about please do keep your children off structures that have been taped off,” he explained.

Shahab said with these rules people can enjoy the improving weather in upcoming weeks. This will help to keep the curve in similar condition as it has been the past couple of weeks.

There was recently some discussion about grocery stores being a place where the virus spreads. He reminded people practice the rules for grocery shopping.

“We all have a role in this so obviously from what I have heard grocery stores and business owners have been doing as much work as they can to maintain physical distancing. They have set up tape on the floor and other signals that you have to stand two meters apart and in some cases the aisles are one way, in some cases only one person is allowed to go in not a whole family. I think we need to as customers respect that and also do our part when we also avoid that distancing,” Shahab explained.

At present 74 of the 316 reported cases are considered active.

There have been four more recoveries bringing that total to 238.

Four people remain in hospital with three in inpatient care and one in intensive care

Of the 316 cases in the province: 134 cases are travel related,132 are contacts or linked to mass gatherings, 30 have no known exposures; and 20 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan 35 of the cases are health care workers. However, the source of the infections may not be related to health care in all instances.

The area breakdown shows 60 from the north including Prince Albert, 149 of the cases are from the Saskatoon area, 70 from the Regina area, 15 from the south, 11 from the central region and 11 from the far north.

Age breakdowns show 24 cases involve people 19 years of age and under, while the remainder are adults. There are114 cases are in the 20-39 age range, 106 are in the 40 to 59 age range, 63 are in the 60-79 age range and nine are in the 80-plus range.

Gender breakdowns show 52 per cent of the cases are males and 48 per cent are females.

There remains Four deaths related to COVID-19 that have been reported to date.

To date 24,412 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province.

Update briefing on northern COVID-19 situation coming Tuesday

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Update briefing on northern COVID-19 situation coming Tuesday

The Saskatchewan Health Authority will be conducting a detailed briefing on Tuesday in regards to the COVID-19 outbreak in La Loche and the north.

The SHA is still conducting its contract tracing investigation, but says there is regular interprovincial travel from residents in northern communities to the Fort McMurray area in Alberta.

“Obviously whenever we have an investigation which in this case involves a person in an assisted living setting or an integrated health facility and one care provider and one resident. The other staff are put under ongoing surveillance to make sure that if anyone is symptomatic they are screened and tested whether they are positive or negative. But I will defer to tomorrow’s technical briefing as to what steps they are taking to long term care in other health facilities,” Chief Medical Health Officer Saqib Shahab said in Monday’s COVID-19 news conference.

Shahab explained that northern communities have special challenges in terms of managing cases. The SHA has worked closely with northern communities and testing numbers in the north are rising.

A number of COVID-19 cases have been linked to an oil sands facility north of Fort McMurray, according to a media update released on Saturday, and there is “a potential for community transmission with continued non-essential travel between communities across the border.”

Regional medical health officers have advised against all non-essential travel between Northwest Saskatchewan and Northern Alberta, effective immediately.

The SHA also recommended that all Northern Saskatchewan residents self-isolate for 14 days and self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after returning home from Northern Alberta.

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, chills, diminished sense of smell, body aches, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Last Thursday Shahab reported that a staff member at a long-term care facility in La Loche had tested positive for COVID-19. There other cases have also been reported in the area, including one care home resident.

FSIN chief Bobby Cameron has been critical of the provincial government’s response to COVID-19 cases in the north. On April 13, he argued the government wasn’t doing enough to make sure northern healthcare workers followed proper procedure. The Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority echoed those concerns, saying that 40 per cent of healthcare sites did not have proper equipment to respond to a pandemic.

In response, the Saskatchewan Health Authority instituted a number of new measures, including mandatory temperature checks for all healthcare workers before and after shifts, and minimized staff movement between facilities.

-with files from Jason Kerr

Moe appreciates energy support from Federal government

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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The energy sector is getting some support from the federal government. Ottawa is committing more than $2.4 billion to the sector after a proposal was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday morning.

The money comes in the form of a $1.7-billion investment for cleaning up orphaned and inactive wells, as well as an additional $750 million for an emissions reduction fund. Trudeau said the fund will help companies reduce methane emissions at a time when they have little cash flow.

He said the two measures, taken together, will support about 10,000 energy sector jobs across in Newfoundland, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

“Our goal is to create immediate jobs in these provinces, while helping companies avoid bankruptcy and supporting our environmental targets,” Trudeau said Friday from outside his Ottawa residence.

During the daily press conference on COVID-19 Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe explained that the industry should have a measure similar to that for the auto industry over a decade ago due to the industry’s liquidity issues.

“There are levers that the federal government can pull and we are asking them to pull them. And we expect that they will in the days ahead. We are very appreciative of the program that was put forward here today,” Moe said.

The province is not aware of all of the details for the program.

“If there is a provincial participation that is required we will be looking at that very closely and working with our industry to insure that this investment can be made in the very best interest of keeping Saskatchewan people working and keeping our very vibrant and I would say one of the most sustainable energy industries in the world alive, healthy and well,” Moe said.

-With files from Arthur White-Crummey Regina Leader-Post

Government COVID-19 deficit scenarios could reach $3.3 billion

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Government COVID-19 deficit scenarios could reach $3.3 billion

The provincial government could lose between $1.3 billion and $3.3 billion in revenue from a combination of an oil price crash and the pandemic-induced economic slowdown, they revealed Friday.

The Province of Saskatchewan announced three possible scenarios in light of what they refer to as a “pandemic deficit” related to the COVID-19 crisis. Finance Minister Donna Harpauer took part in the daily COVID-19 update press availability and outlined the three scenarios.

“The 2020-2021 deficit is not a structural deficit it is a pandemic deficit and we will manage through it. We will develop a fiscal plan to bring our budget back to balance over time because we have the strength and the foundation here in Saskatchewan here to do it,” Harpauer said.

That difference — a pandemic deficit as opposed to a structural one — puts the province in a different situation than it was a few years ago.

The ranges put forward a potential decrease in revenue of about $1.3 billion, $2.2 billion and $3.3 billion in relation to the 2019-2020 mid-year forecast of $15.4 billion.

The potential revenue declines are based on three economic scenarios. Each scenario includes assumptions on a number of economic factors, including the duration of current economic restrictions, how soon resource prices may recover and anticipated consumer behaviour once restrictions are lifted.

Real GDP scenarios for 2020 are all negative and range from a decline of 4.1 per cent under the most optimistic scenario to a decline of 14.9 per cent in the most pessimistic scenario. These are related to a number of possibilities.

“One being the length and severity of the pandemic, another the duration and overall impact of social distancing measures, third the success of government fiscal and monetary policy around the world to support the global economy, another is the length of time it takes oil prices to recover and there is the potential changes in consumer and business behaviour once the pandemic passes,” Harpauer said.

The deficit scenarios exist because of the unprecedented challenges.

“Financially I must say that Saskatchewan is better positioned than just about every province in Canada to address this challenge but the impact is still very significant,” Premier Scott Moe said.

“Which should come to no surprise to anyone when you consider how much the economy ha slowed today, not just here in our province but across our nation and around the world.”

Harpauer noted that the challenges are unprecedented and worldwide but explained that the financial structure of the province is strong. She said they developed the scenarios because they thought it was important to show a range of how great the impact might be. The province is only less than three weeks into the new fiscal year the timeline for restrictions remaining in place remains unknown.

“It is still incredibly difficult to forecast revenue with any degree of certainty,” Harpauer said.

However, they expect all revenues to decline in fiscal 2020-2021. Harpauer explained that they are currently managing spending to the budget estimates of March 18.

“Our government has committed to provide all financial resources necessary to address the COVID-19 pandemic and this will likely result in spending increases beyond the amount allocated in the 2020-2021 finance estimates. Estimates will also be increased due to programs we have announced such as the Saskatchewan Small Business Recovery Program and the Self Isolation Reports Program. There may be further spending increases based on Federal relief decisions,” she said.

The fiscal foundations for the province are solid as the province has maintained liquidity and the net debt to GDP ratio among the lowest in Canada.

“Saskatchewan was on track for a surplus in 2020-2021 prior to going into the COVID-19 pandemic and the oil price collapse,” she said.

Harpauer explained that the federal government has come up with many plans, to their credit, and the province’s role is to see if there are gaps and then focus on the recovery so that there are jobs to return to when the pandemic has passed.

The province has not had discussions about allowing municipalities to run deficits and other things such as cutting the civil service or raising taxes. Harpauer said existing public sector contracts will be honoured.

“At this point in time we are not having those discussions of the next budget. We are only, what three weeks into this budget and you are asking me to foreshadow what is in my next budget,” Harpauer said.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic transition to new education reality a success

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Saskatchewan Polytechnic transition to new education reality a success

The transition to the new world of education in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has been fairly seamless for students in Saskatchewan Polytechnic campuses across the province, including Prince Albert.

Sask. Polytech said online delivery already existed at their institution, but because of COVID-19 now more than 90 percent of programs being offered through online or other remote methods.

“It’s been really successful and I am proud of the organization and the way it has responded. Necessity is the mother of invention and the necessity of operating differently gives our organization an opportunity to understand actually what we can do and that has been very rewarding as well,” said Dr. Larry Rosia, president and CEO Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

Rosia explained that the transition has gone well and the institution is following the recommendations of Chief Medical Officer Shahib Shahab and Minister of Advanced Education Tina Beaudry-Mellor.

“At the start of all this if someone had said what are you going to do and this is the timeframe we are going to do it in we would have all been in shock but I am really proud of the organization and the way everyone has, in all aspects of our organization, stepped up and responded to the crisis,” he said.

According to Rosia, many courses were already blended so they were already incorporating both online and face-to-face prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was sort of a way that we were teaching using online and face-to-face and we call that a blended approach and we had a large number of our courses that offered online components prior to the pandemic. So the transition for some of the programs to go online to remote learning was very smooth,”

The Saskatchewan Polytechnic campuses service 28,000 learners through their college and continuing education programs.

“We have to continue helping them and make sure that they can progress through their programs and be successful coming out of it the other way,” Rosia explained.

He explained that they are providing ways to learn, including getting assignments and final grades, through innovative approaches.

“The difference between a polytechnic and a university is, of course, our applied hands-on learning component which adds another dimension to that. And our faculty have been very creative in ways to teach remotely whether it is remote demonstrations through a video feed or through Zoom, we have used Zoom quite a bit with assignments done at home and then demonstrations back to the instructor. That is an example of one of the innovative ways.”

In the Culinary Arts Program, for example, the students are able to demonstrate skills remotely through video to their instructors. As well, according to Rosia, The School of Business already had most of their courses online and the format was already part of the learning so the transition was simple.

He explained that the trades programs were an example of a program that had to be postponed. The school contains theory and some lab delivery, so the theory was easily transitioned.

“And a few of our programs have been postponed for some of the classes until the restrictions are lifted. But as I said, we have managed to get about 90 per cent of our programs offered through some alternate delivery methodology,” he said.

“That will be something that the Apprenticeship Commission and ourselves would think that through when this is lifted and get those individuals back in the classroom so they can finish off their training.”

They also have courses delivered through D2L, a platform that exists in the institution and some faculty are using video feeds to hold classes. Classes are typically 15 or more people in size with some as large as 30.

“I know many instructors are spending many hours working individually with students through email and chat sessions to help them get through their programs and make sure that they are successful and then being really creative in the way we deal with our final exams,” Rosia said

Some exams are being handled through assignments or projects being submitted or through open book exams.

“You can have a properly designed open book exam can be just as effective as a closed book,” Rosia said.

Sask Polytechnic campuses collect seven pallets of materials for frontline health workers

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Sask Polytechnic campuses collect seven pallets of materials for frontline health workers

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is doing its part to help with frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The institution banded together their four campuses in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw and collected seven pallets worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies.

“A lot of the people that are on the frontlines are our alumni so we are very proud of our graduates from our programs. We wish them all of the best as they go about doing this important work,” Dr. Larry Rosia President and CEO Saskatchewan Polytechnic explained.

The campuses collected 741 boxes of gloves, 40 boxes of masks and face shields, 212 boxes of procedural masks and 295 boxes of the N95 masks for a total of 420. They also collected four boxes of surgical masks, 780 isolation gowns, 41 containers of hand sanitizer and 20 tubs of wipes.
“They were shipped to a central location identified by the Government of Saskatchewan for distribution to the health regions around the province. So that way they could go to locations most in need,” Rosia explained.

“All of (are) important in the safeguarding of the health of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals treating the COVID and a lot of those who are Saskatchewan Polytechnic alumni I am proud to say,” he added.

The staff first conducted inventory or supplies and materials at each campus. Employees then returned to their campuses and practiced proper safety guidelines and gathered the materials. They then brought the materials from storage and bring them to staging areas where they were shrink-wrapped and then picked up and sent to the central staging area to be shipped to health regions.

“It was faculty, staff and employees going above and beyond. Coming back to campuses after they were vacated and practicing proper distancing and safety guidelines. But they gathered all of the stuff up and shipped it all in so that is something that I am very proud of as well,” Rosia said.

Kirzinger shocked to receive Catholic Education Service Award in final year as educator

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Kirzinger shocked to receive Catholic Education Service Award in final year as educator

In her final year of teaching, École St. Anne Student Support Services Teacher Louise Kirzinger was astonished when she was named one of the two recipients of the 2019-2020 Catholic Education Service Award as announced by the Prince Albert Roman Catholic School Division.

“This was quite a surprise and I feel very honoured and I’m sure there are many other worthy recipients but I feel very honoured that I was chosen along with Mark Phaneuf for this award and as it is my last year of teaching and I think it is kind of nice way to go out,” Kirzinger said.

Recipients were chosen thanks to their significant contributions to Catholic education, and their faith community. 

“I guess they see me as someone who has lived out the philosophy of Catholic education and looking for the face of Christ in the people you work with, in the face of your students and their parents and hoping that they can see Christ back when they look at you,” she added.

Kirzinger has been with the division for nearly 24 years and she has worked at St. Michael, St. Francis, St. Catherine Catholic School (then known as W.F.A. Turgeon) and then her current school Ecole St. Anne.

Kirzinger has been part of the Catholic education system her entire life as a student and a teacher and explained that Christ is one of the greatest teachers

“We want to show that love to our families, to our children, to our coworkers along with giving them a good academic education as well and that there is a faith component in their lives  that helps us through our lives,” she said.

Part of the recognition is for work in the parish community. She explained that in the Catholic school community you are charged to try and use your talents in the parish community and they are part of the whole.

“It is both because we see the church as part of our education community as well. Every school has to find a parish priest and we have connection to a parish as a school and we try and do things with a parish, it could be singing at mass or a tour of the church there are many things,” she said.

Her job as a Student Support Services Teacher is all about service.

 “Our job is to support classroom teachers with needs in their classroom and create programming for children that may have special needs in their classroom. It could be someone with exceptional needs or some help with reading. In Student Support Services we are someone to support the students but we are also there to support the teachers and help them as much as we can in any way we can,” Krizinger explained.

The  Prince Albert Roman Catholic Board of Education established the Catholic Education Service Award in 1998 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to Catholic education in Prince Albert. Both recipients have been nominated due to their significant contributions to Catholic education, and their faith community.

For more on the award, including school division reaction, please see Thursday’s Daily Herald.

Phaneuf humbled to be recognized with Catholic Education Service Award

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Phaneuf humbled to be recognized with Catholic Education Service Award

Ecolé St. Mary High School Principal Mark Phaneuf was gratified and humbled when he was recently named one of the two recipients of the 2019-2020 Catholic Education Service Award as announced by the Prince Albert Roman Catholic School Division (PARCSD). After serving with and living in the division for nearly his entire life Phaneuf feels he served as well as has been served by the people of PARCSD.

Recipients were chosen thanks their significant contributions to Catholic education, and their faith community. 

“It contains my entire life and to be able to have that kind of relationship with community you just really can see an opportunity to be involved as well. So the circumstance I was placed in greatly helped create an environment where it is easy to give,” Phaneuf said.

 “I have been with the School Division as a student and employee for I guess close to 40 years now. So to spend that much time with an organization and really at 55-years-old when you about it my entire life. That kind of longevity for a relationship with a community it feels really good to be recognized like that,” he explained.

He explained that he is part of his home in the community, the school, the Knights of Columbus and Sacred Heart Cathedral and he sees each part of the community as linked. Phaneuf has chaired the Sacred Heart Parish Council, been the Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus for the Cathedral and has been a parishioner for his entire life.

He has worked in the School Division even before he earned his degree. Phaneuf was a Teaching Assistant (now called an Educational Assistant) for two years while he completed his Education Degree. He has been at St. Mary for 16 years, St. Francis for eight years and St. Michael Community School for four years. Phaneuf has also been a vice principal.

An important aspect of service to Phaneuf is the connections you make in both the parish and the education community. He considers service just another aspect of an educators profession and life.

 “As educators, you get to be with people and hopefully effect people and part of what I have really reflected on is how many people positively affected me. I have learned so much from my students, my staff and families. I have learned so much from the different parishioners at the Cathedral and the people that I have served on the various committees there and with the Knights of Columbus,” Phaneuf explained.

Phaneuf said that the award recognizes that people are aware of what he gives, but he receives just as much from the wonderful people in the division.

“I can’t help but think of Mother Theresa at a time like this where she talks about life is not about making these big actions of love it is about doing everyday tasks and everyday things that you do as people and it is the small tasks that make such a difference. I think about the things we do every day in our schools and our parishes.”

Examples he gave of small things included the smile you greet somebody with or the hands on the shoulder when somebody is down.

“The relationships  are just so important and really that is what I think this award is about,” he said.

“It is about serving and at the same time people are serving you. That is something that gets lost in this is the other side of the relationship where when you need it you really get supported by the people just as much as you maybe energized and supported them.”

The  Prince Albert Roman Catholic Board of Education established the Catholic Education Service Award in 1998 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to Catholic education in Prince Albert. Both recipients have been nominated due to their significant contributions to Catholic education, and their faith community. The other recipient is Louise Kirzinger  who is currently teaching at Ecole St. Anne School as a Student Support Services Teacher.

For more on the award, please see Thursday’s Daily Herald.

Sask Rivers School Division reviews annual survey data

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Sask Rivers School Division reviews annual survey data

The Saskatchewan Rivers School Division board reviewed its annual school survey report during their regular meeting on April 6.

The board, unlike some other divisions in Saskatchewan, does not have a quarterly Wall Walk of pertinent data. This report, prepared by superintendent Cory Trann, is similar, according to director of education Robert Bratvold.

“The kind of the data is probably more detailed because it has general data from several different categories,” Bratvold said.

The board gets a yearly snapshot of what students are saying about their experiences and educational outcomes. The number of parents participating this year nearly doubled from the 450 who participated last year. The overall impression is that the division is positive for education, Bratvold said.

 “It is positive, we are proud of the work that our families and staff do. Our students feel safe and connected  and interested in learning.”

The  numbers are strong in both First Nations, Métis and Inuit and other categories according to Bratvold.

“We do have a strong sense of parity in the areas of our survey. We are not resting on our laurels, we have got improvements to make but by and large we have got some good baseline data,” he said.

During the meeting the board also dealt with their Board Development Plan. The Board Development Plan began in 2014 and it gets renewed every year. It is created in the fall of each year but circumstances change throughout the year. The board discussed adjustments at the meeting to deal with COVID-19.

 “We really had to pause a lot of the things because the plans were in-person sessions and were cancelled. So the committee that is looking after Board Development is going to do some searching and see if there are some alternative nests for online trustee development,” Bratvold said.

As well, the board continued preparations for the November election. The board appointed Returning Officers for both the City and the rural portions of the division. Prince Albert’s City Clerk was appointed the Returning Officer for the City wards and the Chief Financial Officer for the division was appointed for the rural section of the division.

Catholic Division board updated on learning transition

Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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The board of the Prince Albert Catholic School Division  was updated on the transition to new education methods following the closure of schools because of the COVID-19 pandemic during their regular meeting on April 6.

The meeting was their first by teleconference. The board addressed a number of issues.

 “We certainly debriefed the board about how we are establishing learning Supplemental Curriculum learning programming as Premier Scott Moe has called it that we will have for our students for the last stretch between April 20 and the end of June,” said Lorel Trumier, director of education.

“We are excited about reconnecting with our students and all of the elements that come from that so that was part of our session.”

As well, with the budget process underway, the board was updated on preparations for the 2020-2021 budget, which is expected to be passed at the June meeting.

“As part of the process we are always making sure our board is up to date on our budget allocation that was provided by the government on budget day. We are now in the process of establishing a budget for the 2020-2021 school year and we are looking forward to debriefing the board after review with an Audit Committee of our proposed budget,” Trumier said.

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