The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the provincial government to explain reports that a senior emergency medical services (EMS) leader was dismissed after warning municipal officials about critical staffing shortages in rural ambulance coverage. 

According to the Opposition, EMS Director and Chief – South Glen Perchie was fired weeks after delivering a candid briefing to Whitewood town council about the state of Saskatchewan’s EMS system. During the Nov. 4 meeting, Perchie and Deputy Chief Jon Antal responded to questions about repeated ambulance outages over the summer, describing a system under strain and at risk of losing coverage due to staffing shortages. 

Their comments were later reported in Grasslands News publications on Nov. 14. Within weeks, Perchie was dismissed by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), a move that has sparked concern among first responders, rural residents, and municipal leaders. 

Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Health Meara Conway said she has sent a letter to Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill demanding an explanation for the reported dismissal. 

“I certainly hope these reports are not true, because firing a frontline leader for telling municipal leaders the truth about risks to public safety is completely unacceptable,” Conway said in a statement. “Transparency is not optional.” 

Conway said public confidence in the Saskatchewan Health Authority is already low and argued the alleged firing raises further concerns about political interference and accountability within the health system. 

The issue has drawn strong reaction from the community of Whitewood. Mayor Chris Ashfield said the town requested the meeting with SHA officials because residents deserved clear answers about why their local ambulance was repeatedly out of service. 

“To have someone fired after providing that information sends a troubling message,” Ashfield said, adding that the decision raises concerns for rural communities seeking honest communication about emergency services. 

The reported dismissal has also gained widespread attention online, including on social media pages frequented by Saskatchewan first responders, where the incident has fueled anger and frustration over staffing shortages and workplace conditions. 

In her letter, Conway is demanding clarity on why Perchie was dismissed, why the government has not been more transparent about EMS staffing challenges, and what steps will be taken to address shortages and rebuild trust with rural communities and first responders. 

“Saskatchewan people deserve assurance that the SHA is operating as a healthcare system — not as an extension of the Premier’s Office,” Conway said. 

As of publication, the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the provincial Ministry of Health have not publicly commented on the circumstances surrounding Perchie’s dismissal