https://twitter.com/thinktankSK/status/1453079500510670849
As the Sask Party cruised to a pretty dominant re-election while almost taking out another NDP leader in his own riding one year ago today, there were reasons for optimism in the province:
* vaccines were on the horizon, projected to begin rolling out by the end of the year.
* Saskatchewan cases/hospitalizations/deaths were incredibly low and I would have to double-check but I think there had literally not been a single Covid-related death in the month before the election (okay, maybe one.)
* There was a feeling that people wanted stability and familiarity during a pandemic election and the long-standing Sask Party offered that.
Who knew that one year after that election:
* the willingly unvaccinated would be a major cause of a system-crushing fourth wave
* Saskatchewan’s healthcare system would be so strained, we would be requesting federal help and sending ICU patients out of province. Multiple Covid deaths would be a daily occurrence, sometimes reaching double digits!
* …and the Sask Party leadership would be a lot less familiar as they all but went into hiding after basically declaring Covid over in mid-July 2021 and lifting pretty much any and all restrictions.
After record-setting case #s, hospitalizations, deaths & now critically ill patients being transferred out of province, many voters are realising they made a huge mistake.
Next election, I hope ppl also realise having a doctor in the top seat might be a good idea!
— Jason Hammond (@headtale) October 20, 2021