Todd McIntyre is hoping to provide a more conservative option for voters, running as the Sask United Party candidate for Wood River.
McIntyre is a rancher from south of Moose Jaw, in which he boards and trains horses. He is running for Sask United because of his belief that after 17 years, the Sask party has grown complacent.
"I just see that complacency, it seems, is starting to set in with the party," said McIntyre. "We (the Sask United Party) want to brand ourselves as a common sense conservative alternative to the Sask Party."
McIntyre has no prior experience in government but has served for six years on Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce's board of directors. He also served three years on the City of Moose Jaw's Heritage Advisory Committee.
His campaign has been operating mostly on foot. McIntyre has gone door to door, talking to voters and taking in their concerns, their interests, and their feedback.
"The big one I am hearing at the door is affordability," said McIntyre.
He also stated that the Sask United Party is looking not only at issues of affordability but also those of schools, protecting Saskatchewan from federal overreach and lowering PST from six to three per cent.
"We also going to eliminate the gas tax at the pumps," said McIntyre
Another key concern he sees the party focusing on if they make government is healthcare alongside education as two main concerns. He promises that the Sask United Party will conduct full audits of both sectors if they win.
"We feel that so much money is being wasted. The current government's way of thinking that they're helping is just throw money at these departments, but just throwing more and more money has put Saskatchewan in a very big debt situation."
McIntyre highlighted issues with wait times for doctors and surgical appointments, along with the lack of availability of family doctors.
However he may disagree with the current government on those issues, but he did state that the newly crafted Marshalls Service is something the Sask United Party would be interested in continuing.
"The RCMP, especially in rural areas, if you're in trouble and you call the RCMP, and of course, they try their best, but they're very limited as well in their numbers and the way that they're able to get out to places quickly enough."
If anyone would like to speak with McIntyre about his policy, or about an issue they want highlighted, he is inviting them to meet up with him today in Assiniboia from 2 to 4 p.m. at Nash's Restaurant.
"Tell me your concerns leading into the election year during this voting week, and come for a coffee and have a chat."