The campaign is in full swing for the 2024 Saskatchewan provincial election. We are reaching out to the leaders of the parties of the province and will be asking them the same set of questions.
The first to speak with us was Carla Beck, the leader of the Saskatchewan NDP. She took the time while on the road Tuesday afternoon.
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How does it feel to finally be on the official campaign trail after what seems to have been a summer of campaigning?
“Well, it feels great to have it official. As you said, we didn't wait for the official writ drop. We've been out right across this province for months and rolling out our plan for Saskatchewan, to take Saskatchewan out of last place and deliver the change that people are looking for.
We've been rolling that out for the last month already. But to have it official, to see the signs go up, to see all of the volunteers come into the campaign office and continue to see our candidates as they're door knocking, it feels really good today.”
What has the reception been on the doorsteps to the parts of your platform already unveiled?
“It has... it's been really positive. And, you know, I've heard that in all areas of the province, from candidates who ran for us in the last election in rural Saskatchewan, who noticed that there really is a change out there at this time, that people are looking for change. I'm so excited about the platform and the things that we put forward because they really have been built with the people of this province, listening to them, certainly where the concerns are, but also listening to them about where the solutions are.
This is a province that is full of opportunity. There are hardworking people in every corner of this province who care about their neighbours, who care about the future of this province, and they want to be better. They're willing to dig in and do the hard work.
What they need is a government who listens to them, who will match them with that hard work, and will deliver results and the things that they care most about, healthcare, cost of living, education system, effectively reducing crime and increasing safety in our communities. That's not what we've seen from Scott Moe and the Sask Party, certainly not over the last number of years. And that's why people are looking for change.
I can't wait to continue to deliver that message to the people of this province that change is possible, that they deserve better, and that we're working really hard to deliver that change.”
Our listeners and readers identified healthcare, affordability, education, and trust in public officials as the main issues – how does your platform address these?
“You know, I think your listeners are much like the people that I've been talking to right across the province. Healthcare is a huge issue for people in this province. You see people waiting longer than anywhere else in the country for knee and hip replacement surgery.
We have women and I hear heartbreaking stories every day from people who are waiting with a tumour, women with a lump in their breast who are told they're going to have to wait months into the next year before they can even receive the diagnostic, or they're going to have to drive out of province and pay out of pocket to get the care that they need. We're hearing from healthcare workers who, again, really want to be part of the solution, but are so frustrated with this government and what they've done to healthcare that they're leaving the profession altogether. And it's people in places right across this province, including Weyburn, that are paying the price.
In terms of affordability, that is something we hear right across the province, and also frustration with the government that continues to tell people everything is just great, but refuses to offer any relief. We've got a plan to address that, to get money back in people's pockets, starting on day one by suspending the fuel tax in this province, something that will save people $0.15 a litre when they gas up their car, their truck. Cutting the PST on some of the things that Scott Moe expanded it to, like children's clothing and groceries.
We know that this is an urgent issue, and this is an issue that people can't wait for. They've been waiting for too long. Education, of course, has been cut and underfunded by this government for a decade.
We've got a plan to invest there and to work with teachers, work with education workers to ensure that every child in this province gets what I know I wanted for my kids as a mom, and that is the very best education that we can give them.
The last one around trust and accountability with politicians is so important. We're going into an election where we're going to, and we've already heard promises from Scott Moe and the Sask Party, promising things now, hand over heart, that they have simply failed to deliver in the last six years, that they have made worse when you look at education and healthcare, and the cost of living with all of their tax hikes and fee increases.
We are putting forth a plan that we know that we can deliver. We can do it in a balanced way that delivers services, but also best value for Saskatchewan people for your tax dollars, and we have a plan to get us to balance in four years. I simply do not make promises that I don't intend to keep.
I know that these are the things that Saskatchewan people care the most about. I know that our plan has been built with them to address those issues, and I know that we are not taking anything for granted. We will continue to work with Saskatchewan people to carry our message out to them, and to build trust, and to show them that we know you're looking for change.
We know you're looking for change and investment in these areas, and that we have a plan that will get us out of last place and see us start investing again in the things that people care most about.”
As leader of the party, you will be travelling quite a bit during the campaign. Where will you be focusing most of your attention?
“Well, we started out in Regina this morning. We’re up to Saskatoon today. We're up to Prince Albert tomorrow, but I think that the only thing that will stop us from hitting all areas of the province will be the length of the campaign. I want to be the premier for the entire province.
I love nothing more than being on the road, talking to people, hearing certainly what their concerns are, but also what their hopes are, learning from them. This is a beautiful province. It is filled with hardworking people.
It is a province that has a proud history of being leaders on front after front. People are frustrated with the government that we've got in power now. They're looking for change.
We are going to reach out to as many people as we can in the next number of weeks, and we'll see how far we get, but we plan to be everywhere in the province in the next while, just as we have been for the last two years.”
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We will continue to bring you up-to-date coverage of the 2024 Saskatchewan election, leading up to election day on October 28th, when we will have the results as they come in – on-air and online.