REGINA — First responders in Saskatchewan who worry they’ve been infected with viruses on the job will be able to get answers in hours, instead of days, under a new bill.

The province has proposed legislation which, if passed, will speed up testing orders on people suspected of infecting first responders with hepatitis or HIV.

Saskatchewan already allows such testing through court-imposed orders, but the province says the new legislation would accelerate that process.

Justice Minister Tim McLeod says the courts will be able to impose a testing order within hours rather than days.

He says first responders and victims of crime deserve timely results to ease their concerns or to expedite treatment.

The law would maintain privacy as it would be against the law to improperly use or publicize test results.

“When this does come up, it’s an incredibly stressful situation for the person who has been exposed,” McLeod told reporters Thursday after introducing the legislation.

“We want to make sure we can give them that peace of mind as quickly as possible.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2026.

Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press