.jpeg)
Carla Beck, leader of the Official Opposition Saskatchewan NDP (which, although they are distinct parties, now holds 20 more seats than the federal NDP), congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney for his election win, and asked him to commit to delivering positive change for the people of the province.
“Congratulations, Mr. Carney,” Beck said during a Tuesday press conference. “Now, it’s time to unify the country and deliver on what matters.
“My message to the Prime Minister and to all federal parties is this: Saskatchewan people need more than words. We need real investments, real co-operation to position Canada to face the challenges and the opportunities that face us. We expect to see real action on priorities that matter most to Saskatchewan people.”
Beck said the province needs:
- A fair deal on equalization that respects Saskatchewan’s contributions and recognizes its challenges;
- a renewed commitment to the national childcare program;
- swift and effective action to remove Chinese tariffs on canola exports;
- Major investments in cross-country infrastructure, including rail lines, pipelines, power lines, and highways.
“Now more than ever, we need to bring Canada together,” Beck said. “Every province deserves to be heard and respected. That’s how you get things done in this country.”
Asked for her reaction to the federal NDP losing official party status, Beck said that the internal conversations of federal parties is their own business — she and her party are focused on Saskatchewan.
“We have a lot of Canadians who are, frankly, not that concerned about the internal machinations of political parties ... I think people in this country are incredibly frustrated by seeing bickering,” she added. “They want to see things get done. They want to know that there’s going to be a job for them, they want to know that there’s a future. And those are the things that we are focused on.”