Stephen Daniel, a longtime political observer now stepping into the local arena, is running for Estevan’s city council aiming to bring transparency, fiscal responsibility, and lower business taxes to the community.
“I’m running for council to better represent the will, the best interest and the concerns of the citizens of Estevan,” said Daniel, who has been following politics for over 25 years.
He said that over time, he has grown increasingly concerned with the direction, policies, and laws adopted by current politicians. Now retired, Daniel said he has the time to focus on issues he believes are important to residents in Estevan, and he feels there is common ground on these concerns across Canada and the United States.
Daniel added that, as a new face in Estevan, he’s not currently focused on divisions over issues in the community.
“I’ve talked to a few people, and some say yes, some say no. So I'm not 100 per cent sure, but you know, the only thing I’ve experienced in the last year in Estevan is friendliness, which I love. But if there is a division in Estevan, I will learn what the cause of it is and I will address it with common-sense solutions.”
Daniel cited transparency, spending, and business taxes as top concerns.
“My top community issues are these, the lack of true transparency, out-of-control spending and high business taxes, which in my understanding is the third highest in all Saskatchewan, which I think is quite appalling and again these business taxes kill jobs, growth and prosperity.”
If elected, Daniel said he would prioritize representing the interests and concerns of Estevan residents. Among his first goals, he noted, would be to repeal the council’s recently passed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, which he argues don’t reflect the will or best interests of the community.
Daniel argues that the current council misrepresents DEI as accessibility improvements, while he believes it promotes hiring based on identity rather than merit, calling it discriminatory, divisive, and illegal. Adding that he believes such policies are a source of division in Estevan, which is why he would seek to scrap them.
“If you desire true transparency, an end to reckless overspending and lower business taxes to attract business, which would provide growth, job growth and prosperity, then vote for me and other like-minded candidates,” he concluded.