When the residents of Weyburn-Bengough go to the polls in the provincial election, they will have five candidates to choose from. The candidate for the Saskatchewan Party will be a new face for the riding, as Weyburn lawyer Mike Weger is running.
Weger has been in Weyburn practising law for 15 years and has been the president of the Saskatchewan Party’s constituency association for eight.
Weger sat down to talk with Discover Weyburn on Monday, a week into the election campaign. We asked him about how the Saskatchewan Party’s platform will help the people of Weyburn-Bengough when it comes to four key points: healthcare, affordability, education, and trust in public officials.
“I think a recent budget announcement from the Saskatchewan Party addressed at least a couple of these main issues,” Weger answered. “$2.2 billion in school funding, and of course we’ve seen that in the City of Weyburn with the new Legacy Park school, so we’ve been making those investments in education.”
Weger also referred to the investments the Saskatchewan Party has made in healthcare here in the Weyburn area.
“We obviously have a new hospital being built, and the recent budget announced an increase of 11 per cent in funding to health care, and that's $7.6 billion in health care funding,” Weger said. “So as far as health care and education, two issues that are very important to me and I know important to the constituents, and the Saskatchewan Party is definitely taking steps to improve that.”
Weger noted the recent announcements as part of the Saskatchewan Party platform when it comes to affordability.
“Just last week Premier (Scott) Moe announced a lot of different measures addressing affordability as far as reducing incoming tax, saving a family of four up to $3,400 and a senior couple $3,100 over the course of four years, increasing the graduate retention program, doubling the active families benefit, increasing the first-time homebuyers tax credit, and creating a new home renovation tax credit,” Weger said. “So, a lot of new announcements just recently looking forward to keeping life affordable for residents of Weyburn-Bengough.
As for trust in public officials, Weger hasn't heard it as an issue raised while out campaigning yet.
"Trust in public officials is not something I have been questioned on at the doorsteps but I do want people to trust that I am in this for the right reasons", Weger explained. "I haven't latched on to one issue that personally affects my life as a reason for running for MLA. I have been involved in our constituency for many years and I think my personal record of volunteerism in the community over the past 16 years should provide constituents the peace of mind that they can trust that the reason I am running is to make our entire constituency a better place to live, raise a family and do business."
Asked what the response has been so far on the doorsteps, Weger said it has been a positive reception.
“I must say campaigning and doing door knocking is, I’m quite surprised, but it’s one of the most enjoyable parts of this process, getting a lot of great feedback,” the candidate stated. He did note that he hasn’t done a lot of door-knocking in Weyburn, the largest community in the riding, so far but there is a reason why.
“We had some new towns that were added to this constituency because of the redrawing of the boundary lines,” Weger explained. “So, I’ve started off by focusing my attention out in towns like Milestone, Kronau, Sedley, and very well received out there, and I think they’re very happy to know that those outlying towns aren’t something that’s going to be forgotten. Not in my campaign, anyways.”
When asked if there was anything else about the campaign, in general, he wanted to add, Weger pointed out he does plan to keep on practising law if elected as MLA.
“The business of law, it’s tied to politics in many ways, and I’m able to manage my schedule with the practice of law so that being an MLA will be my first priority and I’ve reduced some of my practice areas to allow me to still practice law. What that does is it keeps me in touch with the business community, keeps me in touch with residents,” Weger said.”
As for why he is running for office?
“I do want to see our economy keep growing in the province of Saskatchewan. I know that that’s how we get to being able to afford those services that we need throughout the province, and just again, keep life affordable through tax breaks.”
We will have profiles with all candidates in the riding of Weyburn-Bengough as election day approaches.