CBC
Sat, October 26, 2024
NOT THE GREEN PARTY
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe speaks to supporters at a rally Saturday in Saskatoon (Trevor Bothorel/CBC - image credit)
Saskatchewan's 2024 provincial election campaign is close to the finish line and the leaders of the NDP and the Sask. Party are making their final appeals.
Monday is the last day of voting (polls are closed on Sunday) and Elections Saskatchewan says results deciding who will govern the province — should be out by midnight that day.
The leaders of Saskatchewan's two main parties were in Saskatoon on Saturday renewing their pitches to voters.
Speaking to reporters after a noon-hour event, Sask. Party leader Scott Moe responded to questions about recent provincial elections outside of Saskatchewan.
That includes the New Brunswick election that brought an end to six years of Progressive Conservative rule.
The Liberals won after taking 31 seats there. In B.C. the race after an election earlier this month remains too close to call and counting resumed on the weekend with NDP maintaining a narrow lead.
"I would say incumbent governments have had it tough, and that's likely the case we're having — a challenging election, I would say here in Saskatchewan. That being said, we have 61 of the finest candidates," Moe said Saturday.
He also addressed some of the unexpected issues that have popped up on the campaign trail.
That includes a report that came out mid-campaign that former Sask. Party MLA Gary Grewal breached conflict of interest rules by owning motels that profited from government contracts.
There was also some confusion over damage to a Sask. Party campaign office that Moe initially said was caused by gunshots. Police later confirmed the damage was not caused by gunshots.
Then there were defections from one-time party loyalists, including Randy Weekes, former Sask. Party MLA and Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature.
Weekes made a series of allegations on his way out of the party and in recent days was among those putting his support behind the NDP and Carla Beck.
Moe says despite the challenges, his team has waged "a very strong campaign."
"There's been various discussions in the media and questions asked of which we've always right to provide the clarity. And we feel it's important for us as a party, for myself as a leader, to provide clarity to the people of Saskatchewan," Moe said.
He said the party is focused on forming a majority government and planning for a vibrant economy.
Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck speaks at a rally outside the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon on Saturday.
Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck speaks at a rally outside the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon on Saturday. (Trevor Bothorel/CBC)
Meanwhile, NDP leader Carla Beck was holding an event outside the Royal University Hospital to talk about health care.
Political experts have said the New Democrats need a breakthrough in rural constituencies to boost their chances of winning the election.
Speaking to reporters, Beck argued that that the issues her party is focusing on resonate in rural areas as much as they do in urban cities.
"Our message is not just for urban Saskatchewan, it's not just for a select few voters. These priorities — delivering relief on the cost of living, fixing our healthcare system, investing in our kids and their education, dealing with crime, mental health and addictions which are rising right across this province — these are issues no matter which community you're in," Beck said.
Beck said the NDP sat down with the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses to discuss the challenges they face in the healthcare system. She says she has a plan to invest more in health care, hire more workers, and reduce wait times.
"When we look at health care, rural Saskatchewan is facing some of the highest numbers of closures. Women giving birth on the side of the road, people going without care, lab service is closed, people being forced to get in their car and drive down sometimes, over two hours with symptoms of a heart attack," Beck said.
She said she's not ruling any constituencies out in rural and urban Saskatchewan.
"My whole family lives in rural Saskatchewan I've seen the impact on health care ... this is a message for all people in the province, we can deliver that change," Beck said.
She said if elected her priority would be providing relief on the cost of living, fixing the healthcare system, investing in education and dealing with crime, mental health and addictions.
'Dumb mistake': What politicians had to say during the Saskatchewan election campaign
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe speaks to supporters at a rally Saturday in Saskatoon (Trevor Bothorel/CBC - image credit)
Saskatchewan's 2024 provincial election campaign is close to the finish line and the leaders of the NDP and the Sask. Party are making their final appeals.
Monday is the last day of voting (polls are closed on Sunday) and Elections Saskatchewan says results deciding who will govern the province — should be out by midnight that day.
The leaders of Saskatchewan's two main parties were in Saskatoon on Saturday renewing their pitches to voters.
Speaking to reporters after a noon-hour event, Sask. Party leader Scott Moe responded to questions about recent provincial elections outside of Saskatchewan.
That includes the New Brunswick election that brought an end to six years of Progressive Conservative rule.
The Liberals won after taking 31 seats there. In B.C. the race after an election earlier this month remains too close to call and counting resumed on the weekend with NDP maintaining a narrow lead.
"I would say incumbent governments have had it tough, and that's likely the case we're having — a challenging election, I would say here in Saskatchewan. That being said, we have 61 of the finest candidates," Moe said Saturday.
He also addressed some of the unexpected issues that have popped up on the campaign trail.
That includes a report that came out mid-campaign that former Sask. Party MLA Gary Grewal breached conflict of interest rules by owning motels that profited from government contracts.
There was also some confusion over damage to a Sask. Party campaign office that Moe initially said was caused by gunshots. Police later confirmed the damage was not caused by gunshots.
Then there were defections from one-time party loyalists, including Randy Weekes, former Sask. Party MLA and Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature.
Weekes made a series of allegations on his way out of the party and in recent days was among those putting his support behind the NDP and Carla Beck.
Moe says despite the challenges, his team has waged "a very strong campaign."
"There's been various discussions in the media and questions asked of which we've always right to provide the clarity. And we feel it's important for us as a party, for myself as a leader, to provide clarity to the people of Saskatchewan," Moe said.
He said the party is focused on forming a majority government and planning for a vibrant economy.
Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck speaks at a rally outside the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon on Saturday.
Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck speaks at a rally outside the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon on Saturday. (Trevor Bothorel/CBC)
Meanwhile, NDP leader Carla Beck was holding an event outside the Royal University Hospital to talk about health care.
Political experts have said the New Democrats need a breakthrough in rural constituencies to boost their chances of winning the election.
Speaking to reporters, Beck argued that that the issues her party is focusing on resonate in rural areas as much as they do in urban cities.
"Our message is not just for urban Saskatchewan, it's not just for a select few voters. These priorities — delivering relief on the cost of living, fixing our healthcare system, investing in our kids and their education, dealing with crime, mental health and addictions which are rising right across this province — these are issues no matter which community you're in," Beck said.
Beck said the NDP sat down with the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses to discuss the challenges they face in the healthcare system. She says she has a plan to invest more in health care, hire more workers, and reduce wait times.
"When we look at health care, rural Saskatchewan is facing some of the highest numbers of closures. Women giving birth on the side of the road, people going without care, lab service is closed, people being forced to get in their car and drive down sometimes, over two hours with symptoms of a heart attack," Beck said.
She said she's not ruling any constituencies out in rural and urban Saskatchewan.
"My whole family lives in rural Saskatchewan I've seen the impact on health care ... this is a message for all people in the province, we can deliver that change," Beck said.
She said if elected her priority would be providing relief on the cost of living, fixing the healthcare system, investing in education and dealing with crime, mental health and addictions.
'Dumb mistake': What politicians had to say during the Saskatchewan election campaign
The Canadian Press
Sun, October 27, 2024
REGINA — Saskatchewan's provincial election is on Monday. The Saskatchewan Party, in government for the last 17 years, is hoping for a return to power, while the NDP is fighting to move out of the Opposition benches.
Here are some memorable quotes from politicians during the four-week campaign:
"Very dumb mistake. One word and it can change your life ... to the people involved, I offer my apology again. I wish I could bring it back. Unfortunately, I can't." — Saskatchewan Party candidate David Buckingham, after it came to light that he used a racial slur referencing a Black person in the government caucus office last year
"We very much strive to be a diverse and inclusive party, very much with the policies that we have enacted with the honour of forming government over the last decade and a half." — Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe said in response to Buckingham's apology
"I said things in my 20s that I don’t believe now whatsoever ... my focus now is on being a positive influence in our society, and any music I’ve created in recent years has been devoted to that." — NDP candidate Phil Smith, a former rapper, after the Saskatchewan Party criticized some of his lyrics as misogynistic, pro-drugs and pro-crime
"If that's what (Moe) wants to focus on, he can fill his boots ... but we're focused on the things that Saskatchewan people need." — NDP Leader Carla Beck in response to the Saskatchewan Party's criticism of Smith's music
"I'm so proud of our province and all that we have been able to achieve together." — Moe during the televised leaders' debate
"I see opportunity in every corner of this province. But under Scott Moe and the Sask. Party, there's too much opportunity being left on the table and too many Saskatchewan people being left behind." — Beck during the debate.
"There will be a directive that would come from the minister of education that would say that biological boys will not be in the change room with biological girls." — Moe said the campaign promise would be his first order of business if re-elected premier, as he had recently heard of a school change room complaint about the issue. The pledge was not part of the Saskatchewan Party's platform document.
""Politics is a difficult job. When you sign up for the job, you know that your public life will be open to scrutiny. Your children don't sign up for that." — NDP candidate Nicole Sarauer said in response to Moe's change room promise, as it was revealed another NDP candidate's children were the subjects of the school complaint.
"What appears is there was at least one bullet that was shot into their campaign office ... we've seen this in the U.S. presidential campaign, not in a provincial Saskatchewan election.” — Moe said after holes were found in a window at the Regina campaign office of Saskatchewan Party candidate Rahul Singh. Police later said the damage was not the result of a firearm.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2024.
A timeline look at Saskatchewan elections and governments over five decades
Jeremy Simes
Sun, October 27, 2024
REGINA — Saskatchewan's general election is on Monday. Here's a look at the provincial governments over the last five decades:
New Democrats, 1971-78
The NDP and leader Allan Blakeney, a former cabinet minister under Tommy Douglas, defeated Ross Thatcher's Liberals in 1971. Blakeney and the NDP were re-elected in 1975 and 1978.
Progressive Conservatives, 1982-86
Blakeney’s NDP was defeated by Grant Devine's Progressive Conservatives in 1982. Devine won a second term in 1986 but the PCs went down to defeat at the hands of the NDP and leader Roy Romanow in 1991.
New Democrats, 1991-2007
Romanow, a former attorney general under Blakeney, was premier for three terms. He retired in 2000 and Lorne Calvert was named the new party leader and premier. Calvert and the NDP won the 2003 election but lost to Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan Party in 2007.
Saskatchewan Party, since 2007
The Saskatchewan Party, founded a decade earlier by a coalition of former provincial Tories and Liberals, formed government for the first time in 2007 and won again in 2011, 2016 and 2020. Wall, a former ministerial assistant in Devine's government, was re-elected twice as premier. He retired in 2018 and his environment minister, Scott Moe, was voted by party members to replace him. Moe was at the helm for the win in the 2020 election, held during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2024.
Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press
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