Our look at this year’s candidates for federal office continues with Cheryl Loadman who is running for the New Democratic Party in Carlton Trail – Eagle Creek.
Candidates were given a series of questions to respond to.
1. Agriculture is dependent on numerous factors including weather patterns, market conditions, and input costs, among others. If elected, what does your party intend to pursue in terms of programming to protect and support the agriculture industry in the province?
A strong agriculture sector is at the heart of our economy, our communities, and our country. New Democrats are committed to supporting Canada’s farmers:
· Protect supply management for farmers and consumers in all trade negotiations.
· Diversify markets for Canadian agricultural exports to reduce reliance on the United States.
· Introduce a payment protection program for produce growers and take immediate steps to restore protection for growers selling to the United States.
· Establish clear food labelling and traceability rules, with accompanying public education – so that Canadians can feel confident that they are purchasing safe and healthy, Canadian-made food for their families.
· Invest in high-speed broadband and cell phone infrastructure to connect farmers and rural communities.
2. Saskatchewan is resource rich, but it also has a well-established core of manufacturing, particularly in rural centres in or bordering on your riding. What would your party/government ensure to undertake to help small to mid-sized manufacturing and value-added ventures to prosper?
Canada’s NDP understands that rural Canada is often left behind in government support to build local economies. We will work with rural Canada to find solutions.
· We plan to launch a massive building initiative focused on shovel-ready infrastructure projects that include rural communities across the country.
· We support the building Build an East-West clean energy grid which provides good jobs for Canadians.
· We will engage in a home building plan in rural and urban areas that will employ Canadians.
· Support Canadian-made solutions for products like heat pumps and construction materials which can be manufactured anywhere in Canada and especially in Western Canada.
· Invest in high-speed broadband and cell phone infrastructure to connect farmers and rural communities to the technology, tools, and services they need.
3. Affordability and housing are of heightened concern, not only in large urban centres, but also in rural communities, some of which are poised to see expansion. How would your government help support consumers in the face of rising costs and foster an environment that promotes affordable housing?
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has estimated that Canada needs nearly 6 million new homes to keep up with housing needs – these numbers include demand in rural Saskatchewan. An NDP Government would speed up the process of getting Canadians into homes by:
· engaging local community to ensure they get public financing for new construction. We will do so by working in partnership with non-profit developers, co-ops, and Indigenous communities.
· addressing the skills shortage in the construction and building industry. We will train more people including young Canadians, newcomers, and people displaced by the tariff war in skilled trades.
· where relevant in rural Saskatchewan we will utilize suitable federal and crown land to build rent-controlled homes.
· increasing the funding to acquire more public buildings and land in order to accelerate affordable home building and especially low-cost rental units.
4. What do you see as a key critical issue that you and your party, if elected, would need to step up to address in your riding?
Top-of-mind issues for Carlton Trail Eagle creek voters are, of course, tariffs and the long-term impact on national and local economies regarding jobs and affordability. Not only do tariffs - both U.S. and Chinese impact our agriculture sectors, but we are worried about the loss of local provincial industry as well as the impact of these tariff on prices we see every day on store shelves.
The NDP support a Canada first policy which focuses on buying Canadian, growing our Canadian sectors such as manufacturing and resource industries, supporting our agriculture sector and protecting our interests internationally. Canada thrives when entrepreneurs, workers, and local leaders have the tools they need to succeed. I want to make sure these issues are on the table for this election—rural Sask. deserves opportunities to prosper and not be a second thought for political parties who only remember it when they are running for election.