{"id":835273,"date":"2025-03-19T13:13:10","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T18:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/19\/lewis-saskatchewans-farcical-rural-hospital-closure-myth-endures\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T13:13:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T18:13:10","slug":"lewis-saskatchewans-farcical-rural-hospital-closure-myth-endures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/19\/lewis-saskatchewans-farcical-rural-hospital-closure-myth-endures\/","title":{"rendered":"Lewis: Saskatchewan&#8217;s farcical rural hospital closure myth endures"},"content":{"rendered":"<article aria-labelledby=\"articleTitle\" data-wcm-id=\"d758f5b5-0a2c-44ae-89c1-b81351c22a30\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>A serious debate on rural health care in Saskatchewan is needed, but it can only happen after the falsehoods of the past are abandoned.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span>Published Feb 21, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>Last updated Feb 21, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>4 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=qehfC578JzlgJtBfkc1Zjg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=Rh156rYZBgFmK3xx2nA6-Q 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=NrbEfDRoH5YTtUnHzNnQTA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=-Y6B-QO05vqhnxWoVyA7Nw 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=8r0K_MGgsl8z7akk3_m97w, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=DwrMxug5iedBULeF4EWngQ 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=PKO4cFAydk7kTUlxTobM4Q, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=mVjGOjB_QrB-a1ZMV9VZHQ 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=HjiT6f8uRtqSG9nxMssDWw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=nTjn9TvvWKdiErTzD2w87Q 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"roy romanow\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=fY1BWslRCMGaGlQNayLsBg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=fY1BWslRCMGaGlQNayLsBg,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0918-romanow-ldr007.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=efuPDFzPIvU_s_8euckFKA 2x\" height=\"750\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>University of Saskatchewan Chancellor Roy Romanow speaks during a panel on the future of health care in Canada at Convocation Hall on the U of S campus in Saskatoon, SK on Monday, September 18, 2017.<\/span> <span>Photo by Liam Richards<\/span> \/<span>Saskatoon StarPhoenix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section>\n<p data-async>Every person in Saskatchewan over 40 remembers that in 1993, Roy Romanow\u2019s NDP government closed 52 rural hospitals. So do a lot of younger people, because the story is recycled and brandished like the Sword of Damocles to remind <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"rural voters\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/tank-saskatchewan-party-enters-new-era-with-diminished-urban-seats\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/tank-saskatchewan-party-enters-new-era-with-diminished-urban-seats\">rural voters<\/a> of who their enemies are should they forget.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async>Since then, like a land acknowledgement, every political debate about <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"rural health care\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/opinion-next-government-must-invest-in-rural-primary-care-mental-health\/wcm\/bdcbf910-1f9a-4748-99a8-6f0283041f8e\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/opinion-next-government-must-invest-in-rural-primary-care-mental-health\/wcm\/bdcbf910-1f9a-4748-99a8-6f0283041f8e\">rural health care<\/a> begins with a reminder of the alleged cataclysm. It has become the Origin Story of contemporary Saskatchewan political geography, the NDP\u2019s albatross and scarlet letter, its fatal misstep on the road to extinction outside the cities.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Star Phoenix\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.2.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-ssp-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>History informs thoughtful citizens\u2019 political choices, but selective memory is a temptress as seductive and brain-addling as a televangelist\u2019s pitch. History is built on facts. The government closed only two facilities; the other 50 were converted into long-term care beds or community health centres.<\/p>\n<p>Calling those facilities hospitals was farcical to begin with. None was fit to deliver modern acute care. Ambulances with patients in dire condition rightly drove right by them.<\/p>\n<p>They had no specialists and no major equipment, and thankfully almost no patients \u2014 an average of four per facility, mostly older people getting care that could easily be provided by a nursing home or home care. Like urban dwellers, rural people who needed acute care went to city hospitals.<\/p>\n<p>But reality is a weak buffer against political outrage. The towns where the deed was done were furious; public servants dispatched to deliver the news on occasion feared for their safety. It was the ugliest time in Saskatchewan health care since the battles fought over medicare in 1962.<\/p>\n<p>Often we never learn the full consequences of government decisions. We did in this case. I led the agency that evaluated the impact of the conversions several years later.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>In addition to looking at health-care utilization data and health outcomes, we surveyed 200 people in each of 25 communities where the H sign was taken off the highway. (Email me if you want the peer-reviewed publication with the full results.)<\/p>\n<p>Survey respondents said that when the changes were announced, they a) opposed them vehemently; b) feared that their health status would be at risk; and c) anticipated reduced access to health care.<\/p>\n<p>Four years later, they reported that a) their health status was not compromised; b) their access to health care had not declined; and, interestingly, c) the economic future of their town in no way depended on the fate of their little hospital.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, they still resented the decision, which if nothing else explains why reminding these communities of three-decade old events remains an apparently effective political message.<\/p>\n<p>Voters don\u2019t have to justify their memories, grudges and allegiances. But democracy pays a price when voters remember selectively, and refuse to reconsider their views when their own experience refutes prior beliefs. Nor is it prudent to fixate on the decision while forgetting the context in which it was made.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async>Grant Devine\u2019s government <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"nearly bankrupted the province\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/tank-economic-scare-tactic-by-sask-party-moe-crashes-into-reality\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/tank-economic-scare-tactic-by-sask-party-moe-crashes-into-reality\">nearly bankrupted the province<\/a>, its credit rating gravely at risk under a mountain of debt. Romanow was a gifted politician fully aware of the perils of unpopular decisions. It is plain fact that his government saved Saskatchewan from fiscal calamity. Perhaps that is worth remembering too.<\/p>\n<p>Political parties\u2019 fortunes wax and wane. When their brand gets tainted, some, like serial grifters, acquire new aliases.<\/p>\n<p>The remnants of Devine\u2019s disgraced Progressive Conservatives (eight Cabinet ministers convicted of fraud) merged with the rump of the wounded Liberals to become the Saskatchewan Party, the historical baggage marooned on the carousel of wilful amnesia.<\/p>\n<p>Rural Saskatchewan\u2019s seems to have placed the NDP (aka the NDP) in permanent exile partly for making a gutsy decision it surely never wanted to make. On health care grounds it was the right call.<\/p>\n<p>So why doesn\u2019t it condemn the Saskatchewan Party (aka the Progressive Conservatives) for creating the near-death fiscal crisis that made the tough love necessary?<\/p>\n<p>Because that would be unwise, unfair, and intellectually lazy \u2014 just like parroting the hospital closure folk tale. Rural health care deserves a thoughtful debate. It won\u2019t happen without escaping the rabbit hole of misremembrances of things past.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p><em>Steven Lewis spent 45 years as a health policy analyst and health researcher in Saskatchewan. He can be reached at <span \n                data-original-string='LYRzF1L+0nXkc1j+NL6t\/g==7f4I5\/\/cqOwawCHD9Jr6E5oo\/lLhlrh9CAo\/5qvjWtCRAM='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>sl<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*********<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">***<\/span>il.com<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Share your views<\/h3>\n<p data-async><em>The StarPhoenix welcomes opinion articles. <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"Click here\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/letters\/how-to-send-a-letter-or-an-opinion-article-to-the-saskatoon-starphoenix\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/letters\/how-to-send-a-letter-or-an-opinion-article-to-the-saskatoon-starphoenix\" target=\"_blank\">Click here<\/a> to find out what you need to know about how to write one that will increase the odds it will be published. Send submissions to <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"<span \n                data-original-string='u1AeFoyN9DFc4msl+5cKYA==7f4QSDLOr1iPSYlFCO\/4sEcRH6K6GhNvVEOV6FAXVHPUng='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>le<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*****<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">************<\/span>ix.com<\/span>&#8220;, &#8220;layout_section&#8221;: &#8220;in-page-link&#8221;}&#8221; rel=&#8221;noopener noreferrer&#8221; data-evt=&#8221;click&#8221; data-evt-typ=&#8221;click&#8221; href=&#8221;http:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/mailto:le*****@************ix.com&#8221; data-original-string=&#8221;twOPwaGirJ+lHIbHuU15MA==7f4RB54xZF6Nb1ly20px63KnWHHEX090DVCpyJWYVVCQiA=&#8221; title=&#8221;This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.&#8221; target=&#8221;_blank&#8221;><span \n                data-original-string='Kpv9Ghtu772oEdbEjPbzeA==7f4r4T13HcAxqC5grB7RJvnSEAgN0CqvZUgEzoXuWCZ\/UA='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>le<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*****<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">************<\/span>ix.com<\/span><\/a> or <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"<span \n                data-original-string='dtflVdSFeqM8ZiJNd\/KUNg==7f4qjt01ej0xGu5YTyXHmrOCMZWRLdfXMmdQ3IwPzr6y4E='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>pt<span class=\"apbct-blur\">***<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*******<\/span>ia.com<\/span>&#8220;, &#8220;layout_section&#8221;: &#8220;in-page-link&#8221;}&#8221; rel=&#8221;noopener noreferrer&#8221; data-evt=&#8221;click&#8221; data-evt-typ=&#8221;click&#8221; href=&#8221;http:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/mailto:pt***@*******ia.com&#8221; data-original-string=&#8221;KNt1sNKacn6vV2odUYJ\/VQ==7f4oomQRT\/uj143tIjgU3EwwZwKjw+v\/t8FAjJS9wL9pk8=&#8221; title=&#8221;This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.&#8221; target=&#8221;_blank&#8221;><span \n                data-original-string='IdoekI59b3gkdZrdeiLZVQ==7f4ou1JgY\/3obOkSKjnnBksm8SNl7UQTjVNk71sunlvzog='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>pt<span class=\"apbct-blur\">***<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*******<\/span>ia.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<section aria-labelledby=\"moreTopicLabel6426947626211425981482611624640512\" data-aqa=\"embed-more-topic\" data-carousel-component data-carousel-icon-button data-carousel-type=\"list\">\n<p>Recommended from Editorial<\/p>\n<ol data-carousel-slide-list tabindex=\"0\">\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"data_source\": \"data_source\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"widget_title\": \"widget_title\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"target_article_title\": \"target_article_title\", \"target_article_id\": \"target_article_id\", \"target_article_position\": \"target_article_position\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"widget-list\", \"data_source\": \"editorial\", \"anchor_text\": \"Lewis: Canada&#038;#39s dying Liberal government may have just saved medicare\", \"widget_title\": \"recommended-from-editorial\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/lewis-canadas-dying-liberal-government-may-have-just-saved-medicare\", \"target_article_title\": \"Lewis: Canada&#038;#39s dying Liberal government may have just saved medicare\", \"target_article_id\": \"65835625-c6c2-47c8-90f5-af8770c7a043\", \"target_article_position\": \"0\", \"layout_section\": \"recommended-from-editorial\"}\" data-carousel-item data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/lewis-canadas-dying-liberal-government-may-have-just-saved-medicare\"> <picture><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Health Minister Mark Holland rises during question period, Monday, Dec 2, 2024 in Ottawa. Holland says provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives.\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/canada-health-act-20250110.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=HwJfAbUWlCcKH3C2rv1Ljw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/canada-health-act-20250110.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=HwJfAbUWlCcKH3C2rv1Ljw, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/canada-health-act-20250110.jpg?h=192&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=vYwSPPdcze7mu84N2V7QMg 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/canada-health-act-20250110.jpg?h=288&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=q-PcBx50bZyb1ekfP7Owbg 3x\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"><\/picture>\n<p><span>Lewis: Canada&#8217;s dying Liberal government may have just saved medicare<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/li>\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"data_source\": \"data_source\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"widget_title\": \"widget_title\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"target_article_title\": \"target_article_title\", \"target_article_id\": \"target_article_id\", \"target_article_position\": \"target_article_position\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"widget-list\", \"data_source\": \"editorial\", \"anchor_text\": \"Lewis: Real target in CEO&#038;#39s assassination was for-profit health care\", \"widget_title\": \"recommended-from-editorial\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/lewis-real-target-in-ceos-assassination-was-for-profit-health-care\", \"target_article_title\": \"Lewis: Real target in CEO&#038;#39s assassination was for-profit health care\", \"target_article_id\": \"233e72df-800a-45a5-b151-c2bab8662a4b\", \"target_article_position\": \"1\", \"layout_section\": \"recommended-from-editorial\"}\" data-carousel-item data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/lewis-real-target-in-ceos-assassination-was-for-profit-health-care\"> <picture><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Flags fly at half mast in front of UnitedHealthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minn., Wednesday Dec. 4, 2024, after its CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in New York City.\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killed.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=rcNG3MOFCnLuHxg9WdSJhA\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killed.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=rcNG3MOFCnLuHxg9WdSJhA, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killed.jpg?h=192&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=M2T8spqNSttQM_ERqR8rYw 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killed.jpg?h=288&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=pUvSt9zb_hsiPWciGBjnhg 3x\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"><\/picture>\n<p><span>Lewis: Real target in CEO&#8217;s assassination was for-profit health care<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<p><em>Our websites are your destination for up-to-the-minute Saskatchewan news, so make sure to bookmark <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"thestarphoenix.com\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/www.thestarphoenix.com\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thestarphoenix.com\" target=\"_blank\">thestarphoenix.com<\/a> and <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"leaderpost.com\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/www.leaderpost.com\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leaderpost.com\" target=\"_blank\">leaderpost.com<\/a>. For Regina Leader-Post newsletters click <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"here\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/leaderpost.com\/newsletters\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/leaderpost.com\/newsletters\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>; for Saskatoon StarPhoenix newsletters click <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"here\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/newsletters\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/newsletters\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/opinion\/columnists\/lewis-saskatchewans-farcical-rural-hospital-closure-myth-endures\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A serious debate on rural health care in Saskatchewan is needed, but it can only happen after the falsehoods of the past are abandoned. Published Feb 21, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated Feb 21, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read University of Saskatchewan Chancellor Roy Romanow speaks during a panel on the future of health care in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":835274,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2892,139429],"tags":[7530,21738],"class_list":{"0":"post-835273","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-lewis","8":"category-saskatchewans","9":"tag-lewis","10":"tag-saskatchewans"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=835273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835273\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/835274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=835273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=835273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=835273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}