‘Choose wisely’: Sask. political leaders lay out desires for upcoming federal election

Saskatchewan Party leader Scott Moe gestures while speaking during a campaign event in Moose Jaw, Sask., on Thursday, October 24, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu and Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck speaks during a media event in Regina, on Friday, October 4, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

Saskatchewan’s two main political leaders have expressed their thoughts on the federal election campaign that is now underway.

Canadians will head to the polls April 28 after Prime Minister Mark Carney requested to have Parliament dissolved on Sunday.

In a post to social media on Sunday, Premier Scott Moe said he hopes every Canadian will take an in depth look at which party has the best plan for defending, strengthening, and growing the economy in every part of Canada.

“‘Team Canada’ can’t mean sacrificing one region’s economy to defend another. That may be a recipe for short-term political gain, but it will be a long-term disaster for Canada’s economy and the unity of our nation,” Moe said in his post, adding “this is an extremely important election.”

“Choose wisely,” Moe said, concluding his post.

Opposition NDP leader Carla Beck says her party wants to see federal leaders commit to addressing major priorities in Saskatchewan.

Beck said that Justin Trudeau ignored many issues facing Saskatchewan people during his time as prime minister, and in a letter asked Prime Minister Carney, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to keep Saskatchewan’s priorities top of mind over the course of the election campaign.

“As the leaders of the three main political parties with Saskatchewan candidates in this election, you have an opportunity to chart a new course and deliver change,” Beck said.

In her letter, Beck listed her party’s 12 priorities for the federal leaders. They included:

• Expanding access to global markets for Saskatchewan products, including investments in trade-enabling infrastructure like ports, rail, pipelines, and power lines.
• Scrapping the federal carbon tax.
• Protecting jobs at Evraz in Regina by maintaining tariffs on Chinese steel, while fighting for the removal of Chinese tariffs on Saskatchewan’s agricultural products.
• Twinning the Trans-Canada Highway from coast to coast to improve transportation safety and efficiency.
• Increasing federal healthcare transfers to reduce wait times and improve access, while maintaining and expanding dental, contraceptive, and insulin coverage.
• Reforming the equalization formula to treat natural resource revenues fairly and recognize rural realities.
• Urgently signing a new childcare funding agreement to protect access to $10/day childcare and ensure new childcare spaces are delivered.
• Expanding school nutrition funding.
• Investing in the future of Saskatchewan’s power generation with realistic timelines for reaching net zero.
• Hiring more RCMP officers to serve Saskatchewan communities and preserving jobs at Depot Division in Regina.
• Honouring federal commitments to First Nations and Métis people and ensuring equitable on-reserve services.
• Delivering real progress on broadband and connectivity for rural and remote communities.

“The Saskatchewan NDP is focused on the future and a big part of that is having an ambitious and thoughtful federal government in Ottawa that steps up and delivers on what matters for the people living here,” Beck said.

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