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Five days of early voting started today in the Saskatchewan provincial election.
There are five candidates running to serve as MLA in the large provincial riding of Wood River, both southeast and southwest of Swift Current.
David Marit is the incumbent and most recently served as provincial minister of agriculture in government.
"I was feeling good, and I thought it was an opportunity for me to continue to do some good things in Wood River constituency," Marit said of putting his name forward again this election. "Even for the province as a whole. I felt it was important for me to run another term and hopefully we're successful in forming government again."
Marit was elected MLA for Wood River in 2016. He was an active producer until 2019 shortly after being named Minister of Agriculture and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation in 2018.
"I guess that I never ever thought in all my life that would have the privilege to serve as the ag minister for the province of Saskatchewan," Marit said. "I think some of the key things we've done over the last term for the ag sector in this province have been really moving in the right direction, both for the livestock sector and some of the new programs we brought in for the livestock folks. Obviously, some of the changes we made to crop insurance.
"The last term, we went through two very significant droughts in the province, and I would feel very comfortable that our government came to the table on behalf of not only the livestock sector, but also agriculture as a whole in this province... One that I'm very, very proud of is the farm and ranch water infrastructure program that has brought tens and tens of millions of dollars to southern and Southwest Saskatchewan for livestock producers and for farmers and for communities to access long term sustainable water."
Marit's political history dates back to RM council in 1993. He joined the SARM Board of Directors in 1999 and eventually served as president before moving into provincial politics.
He highlighted making people feel heard as a key to his political success.
"I listen to people, and I have for decades," Marit said. "I've always lived by the adage that if you surround yourself with smart people, you'll make the right decisions. I think we have done that. I look at a lot of the committees where we've had some good access to some great people in this constituency and the southern part of the province... We have farmers and ranchers from across the province that sit on those committees that make those decisions on behalf of the whole sector. They're not political decisions and they're not made by the minister. These folks are saying that this research would be good for the whole Ag sector in the province of Saskatchewan.
"Those are the kinds of things that I think that I just really emphasize that are important, and I think probably one of the key things is I really do listen to people. I've reached out to people with issues and concerns. I've always done that. I'm probably one of the most accessible cabinet ministers because most of the people in province have my cell number and I've never changed it in all my years at SARM and all my years in government. Even this morning, I've had calls from people wanting to talk and have a discussion about issues."
Polls suggest this election will be closer than recent elections. Marit is trying to focus on the progress he feels the Saskatchewan Party has made while in government.
"I look at what we have done, and I think the record really shows that we have made some significant improvements to the province as a whole," he said. "When I look at infrastructure, when I look at schools, when I look at hospitals being built and I look at some of the challenges we've had and I've heard it in my constituency. My largest community in my constituency is Assiniboia, about 2600 people, and the challenges around that is attracting professionals. Whether it's healthcare, education, all of it, and I think we've come up with some very good programs for incentives to attract the healthcare professionals and people to come to rural Saskatchewan.
"Are we perfect? No. (Are) there things we can do better? You bet. I hope we continue to do that. I'm very proud of the Sask Party government and how they've stood for the Saskatchewan people on some policy issues and decisions made by federal government that are impacting everybody here in the province, and I would hope that the voters in Wood River constituency are happy with the work that I've done over the last eight years and hopefully continue to serve them."
Marit is running against Clint Arnason of the Conservative Party of Saskatchewan, Todd McIntyre of the Saskatchewan United Party, Melvin Pylypchuk of the Green Party, and Mike Topola of the Saskatchewan NDP.
Election Day is Monday, October 28th.