Kaitlyn Stadnyk is bringing a sense of enthusiasm and a drive for change to the upcoming Lumsden-Morse byelection, as she represents the New Democratic Party.
Stadnyk's deep-rooted ties to her community and her academic pursuits in human justice have pushed her to step onto the political stage, with goals of addressing pressing issues and fighting for positive change.
Originally from a farm, just outside of Lumsden, Stadnyk's upbringing instilled a strong connection to rural life.
Currently enrolled at the University of Regina, pursuing a Bachelor of Human Justice, she found herself drawn to politics through a hands-on experience interning with an MLA. The experience provided her with a firsthand understanding of legislative procedures.
Stadnyk elaborated on her decision to enter the upcoming byelection.
"I think the people in Lumsden-Morse are definitely struggling when it comes to access and quality healthcare,” she explained. “We have to drive a lot further to access our specialists. We're put on wait lists and if we can't make it due to a blizzard or just the distance, we're put back on these wait lists."
She is also passionate about the education system in rural Saskatchewan, with both issues hitting close to home for Stadnyk.
"The women in my family are all nurses or doctors,” she stated. “That's one thing that drove me. My grandma was a teacher out in Disley, and I've seen that our education system is falling through the cracks. Our teachers are having to do a lot more with a lot less.”
Stadnyk's hopes to make a difference by simply being the voice she believes people are looking for.
"I aspire to just be a voice,” she explained. “We need some unwavering dedication, fresh ideas from the youth, but just someone who will show up, listen to the voters, and also be a voice for them in the media and in the legislature.”
She is also well aware of the skepticism that often surrounds politics and aims to bridge the gap.
“I've had quite a few voters say I'm the first political candidate they've ever met that's ever showed up on their doorstep and kind of breaks my heart because these people, they deserve someone that's going listen to their concerns and be their voice," Stadnyk expressed.
Stadnyk added that she acknowledges the importance of growing opportunities in Saskatchewan and keeping youth in the province.
"We got to keep our youth here in Saskatchewan,” she stated. “We're losing our best and our brightest to other provinces. They’re moving for better opportunities as it comes to healthcare or education. They're even just moving to the city to access these things and we need to keep our rural population up and our infrastructure when it comes to hospitals, schools, everything."
Voters will head to the polls on August 10 to elect their new representative.