Dear: Hon. Scott Moe; premier@gov.sk.ca; 1-306-787-9433

Dear: Carla Beck (NDP Regina); reginalakeview@ndpcaucus.sk.ca; 1-306-522-1333

Dear: Nathaniel Teed (NDP Saskatoon): saskatoonmeewasin@ndpcaucus.sk.ca ; 1-306-374-8333

Dear: Hon. Paul Merriman; he.minister@gov.sk.ca; 1-306-787-7345

Dear: Hon. Everett Hindley; ministerrrhe@gov.sk.ca; 1-306-798-9014

Dear: Andrew Will (Chief Executive Officer) & Lori Frank (Executive Director, Governance and Policy.) ceo@saskhealthauthority.ca ; 1-306-655-0080

CTV News@ news@bellmedia.ca, W5@ctv.ca, newsonline@bellmedia.ca, brianne.foley@bellmedia.ca

Mayor Sandra Masters; mayor@regina.ca; 1-306-777-7339

Mayor Charlie Clark; mayors.office@saskatoon.ca; 1-306-975-3202

Dear: Delbert Kirsch (MLA for Batoche) batochemla@sasktel.net ; 1-306-256-3930

Dear: Gary Grewal (MLA for Regina) garygrewalmla@sasktel.net ; 1-306-949-4900

Dear: Kelly Block (Conservative MP for Carlton--Trail Eagle Creek); kelly.block@parl.gc.ca ; (306) 975-4004

Update: July 27th 2024- Shaun fought hard for many years but sadly lost his battle to cancer. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. Rest easy good buddy. I will finish what we started.

Good day,

I hope this email finds you in good health. My name is Denise Dmitruk. I have spent over 18 years in the healthcare field, and I find myself blessed to have education that allows me the privilege to look after the public when they are at their most vulnerable state.

I am writing you due to a matter of concern I have regarding one particularly important umbrella of our health care system. My reference will be to those individuals who are going through cancer treatments. Over the last two + years, I have been one of these public individuals who unfortunately found myself with a cancer diagnosis and faced with requiring treatments (surgery first to remove the Parotid Gland and 2 surrounding lymph nodes that were infiltrated, followed by just under 3 weeks of Radiation in the initial surgical area.) First, I must applaud the Surgeon and staff at St. Paul's Hospital and the Saskatoon Cancer Centre for their care, compassion, and kindness to me. It helped make a difficult situation bearable. However, I see there are flaws in the system and only wish for your consideration regarding this.

Over six thousand members of the public will receive a cancer diagnosis this year alone in Saskatchewan. This is above those already diagnosed and actively going through treatments. Sadly, 1 in 2 Canadians will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. This is a growing concern that will not simply go away. A cancer diagnosis alone is scary- never mind the repercussions of treatment, side effects, reoccurrences, and unsuccessful treatments.

I would also now like to introduce Mr. Shaun Nemeth from Regina, Saskatchewan. Shaun's cancer hurdle began on October 8th, 2022 as he was diagnosed with Tonsil Cancer positive for P. He endured 16-35 rounds of radiation plus 4 rounds of immunotherapy at the start. Post treatment, he was hoping for good news, only to find that the therapy failed and his cancer metastasized to his spine. He was diagnosed April 28th, 2023 with T11 Spine Cancer positive for P16. He had to endure bone biopsies, CT and MRI scans (of both his brain and spine,) and now is back again for treatments. He has recently completed an additional 10 rounds of Radiation and is now doing 6 rounds of Chemotherapy. To say his fight has been cumbersome and significant is an understatement. Even so, he is giving it all he can in the hopes for a positive outcome.

Today we wish to address the parking availability at the Allan Blair Cancer Clinic along with the fees associated at both Regina and Saskatoon Cancer Agency locations. We fully understand it is up to the individual to pay for their parking (like any other visitor, staff, etc.) Luckily in Saskatoon, we do have a parking lot allocated to those who are part of the Cancer Clinic/expectant mothers/disabled parking (with a tag to prove it.)

In Regina, the parking situation is way worse. There are no allocated lots for cancer clients requiring some patients to either: a) come to the hospital hours in advance to obtain a parking spot, or b) walk many blocks to get to the hospital for treatment, and then have to walk all those blocks back post treatment when they are in a very vulnerable state, in a neighborhood that is not particularly safe.

The purpose of our governing structure is to serve the public. This is a major safety risk for those who are having to park and walk blocks to get to the cancer clinic for their treatments. Furthermore, the public who have a cancer diagnosis are already facing so many challenges, and having to worry about paying to merely park for a treatment they did not ask for (and sometimes daily for hours,) seems unheard of to us. Surely consideration can be given to allow these patients the respect of paid parking for the length of their treatments, along with allocated parking spaces for cancer clients in the Regina and surrounding area.

Your consideration of this small request will help everyone going through a tumultuous diagnosis and cumbersome treatment plan with a little sigh of relief to not have to worry about more financial burdens or the simple convenience of a safe place to park.

On May 11th, I (Denise) received an email titled Parking Services Employee Survey. This pertained to the parking challenges experienced across all Saskatoon hospitals and stated that the SHA is committed to exploring and finding solutions that will help address these challenges. I only hope that those in the health care system can also help shed light and perspectives of the parking challenges that are being faced across the entire health care spectrum and circle of care.

In conclusion, we have enclosed a list of names of members of the public who support this request to have parking spots available for all those going through cancer treatments (at all locations) along with free parking during their treatment days.

Please feel free to reach out if you require any further information or clarification. We would be more than happy to have an in person meeting, phone conversation and further discussion regarding this significant request.

We want to thank you for your time and consideration of this matter. Serving the public by providing close and available parking spots and free parking would really help impact the public accessing cancer care.

Thank you.

Kindest regards,

Denise Dmitruk; 1-306-621-5661; denisedmitruk84@gmail.com

Shaun Nemeth; 1-306-540-5283; Shaunnemeth72@gmail.com