Saskatchewan Election Day is October 26, 2020.  More information on the election and voting is available here.

SPA has provided letters to MLA candidates highlighting the significant disparity in access to physiotherapy services in rural/remote and some urban areas of Saskatchewan, the benefits of investing in establishing services and potential opportunities to explore to improve access to care. 

There are numerous vacant physiotherapy positions in rural/ remote and some urban areas of Saskatchewan and the SPA is willing to work with key stakeholders on the implementation of potential solutions.  Some of the possible solutions include:

• Expanding the training capacity at the University of Saskatchewan from the current 40 seats to increase the supply of physiotherapists in Saskatchewan
• Help address many of the barriers for new graduates of physiotherapy programs to seeking employment in rural and remote locations by providing incentive programs to relocate and establish careers in underserved communities. Options to consider include student loan forgiveness programs, bursaries, mentorship programs and locums.
• Retention and support initiatives for physiotherapists working in rural and remote areas such as mentorship programs, financial incentives and creating programs to allow for locum coverage during vacations and leaves.  
• Provide financial support for implementation of innovative programs and interventions to improve access to physical therapy care for underserved populations. This could include the inclusion of physiotherapy in the services covered by supplementary health benefits to allow people to receive care in private practice clinics.  Implementation of telehealth and other technologies will support rural and remote access to care as well.

As we lead up to the election, we encourage SPA members and community leaders to engage in discussions on these critical issues, solutions and opportunities.  SPA has generated a handout that summarizes the above issues accessible here:  2020 Election Physiotherapy Discussion.   

In addition, SPA will be posting social media messages to raise awareness of these important issues.  Please share the messages to amplify the important messages.

In response to member queries, we have put together the following list of PPE suppliers. This list will be updated as we learn of additional vendors. Note: SPA cannot verify the quality or suitability of any products in meeting requirements or safety standards. SPA is not endorsing particular vendors but rather providing information only. 

• Saskatchewan government's list of PPE suppliers: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/-/media/files/coronavirus/covid-business/personal-protective-equipment-suppliers.pdf
• Apollo Management Solutions, based out of Saskatchewan, is an industrial workwear developer, manufacturer and provider of PPE throughout Canada. They are offering special pricing for all members of physiotherapist associations in Canada. Apollo Management Solutions - Saskatoon
• Landale Signs has re-tooled their facility to produce essential COVID-related PPE as well as other associated products such as physical distancing items: https://landaleguards.ca/
• PENN Protective Equipment is a Canadian medical face mask manufacturer in Cambridge, Ontario. They are offering a 20% discount (enter discount code CPA20 at checkout) on medical grade ASTM Level 1, 2 and 3 disposable face masks.  https://pennprotective.com
• Polymershapes has sneeze guards in stock and can produce custom guards with 1.5 weeks lead time; see their CoronaGuard and ThermoGuard brochures
• Rosewood Pharmasave in Saskatoon has indicated that they are expecting Health Canada approved surgical masks by early May. If members call, they can inquire about placing larger orders in the future. For next week, call the store by end of day April 29. Orders are placed weekly following that date.
• Schaan Healthcare Products is a local Saskatchewan distributor of medical and surgical supplies and currently the prime vendor for the Saskatchewan Health Authority for all general medical and surgical products, including key PPE products. Click here for available products and contact information.
• Second Barrier, Saskatchewan supplier of Health Canada approved face shields: https://secondbarrier.com/
• Stevens Healthcare has non-contact thermometers for $220 each as well as varioius types of Health Canada approved face masks available; contact Brenda BeavisFrey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 306-241-2068
• Swish-Kemsol, a Saskatchewan company selling Canadian-made (visit their Manufacturing Website), Health Canada approved hand sanitizers (NPN 80099138) and hard surface disinfectants for COVID 19 (DIN 02469111 & DIN 02489740). PPE sold through a partnership with Ronco. Call for availability and pricing (800) 667-8113. Complete Jan/San Supplier.
• Wood Wyant, supplier of cleaning chemicals and equipment, gloves and hand sanitizer: Message from Wood Wyant, Info on SABER cleaners, Price list for high priority items

Please monitor CPA's "Clinic Reopening" resources for other suppliers, provincial clinic reopening guidelines, and CPA's update on PPE: https://physiotherapy.ca/clinic-reopening

SPA and CPA are also actively advocating with the government for access to PPE.

Following our April 25 panel discussion on telehealth was a presentation on PPE by Brenda Beavis Frey with Stevens Healthcare. Click here to see a helpful document summarizing the questions and answers regarding PPE. You can listen to the presentation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uFRSKiBavFE