SASKATOON — La Loche Mayor Georgina Jolibois will be gunning for the vacant MLA post for Athabasca, after being nominated by the Sask. NDP as its official candidate — in a contested nomination conducted via online and phone voting — for next year’s by-election.
Jolibois, who is a proud Dene woman and a member of the Clearwater River Dene Nation, is running for the vacant seat held by former MLA member Buckley Belanger. She is also a former MP having served from 2015 to 2019.
Belanger resigned last August to run as the Liberal’s candidate for the Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River riding in the last election. He lost to Conservative Gary Vidal.
The by-election for Belanger’s post will be held on Feb. 15, 2022, or six months after his official resignation. The campaign is expected to start on or before Jan. 19, or at the discretion of Premier Scott Moe.
Jolibois said the Sask Party’s inaction is the reason why she decided to seek the vacant MLA seat.
“Having served my community of La Loche for over 20 years, I have seen first-hand the impact of this Sask. Party government’s inaction to address key issues,” she said. “The ongoing housing crisis in La Loche and all of Northwest Saskatchewan has only been made worse by the heartless introduction of income assistance changes. Instead of helping us, the Sask. Party has simply created another problem.”
Jolibois, as an MP, introduced a Private Member’s Bill that led to the creation of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — which recognizes the legacy and negative impact caused by the Canadian Indian residential school system.
The Sask. NDP said the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a statutory holiday, has to date been refused to honour by the Sask. Party.
Sask. NDP Leader Ryan Meili said Jolibois, currently in her fifth term as mayor of La Loche, is a tested leader.
“The Athabasca constituency will be well-served with a proven and experienced leader like Georgina. Her service to her community as a mayor and a Member of Parliament is exactly the experience and expertise that the people of Northwest Saskatchewan need from their MLA. With her proven track record, I know she will be an outstanding representative for Northwest Saskatchewan, and a wonderful addition to our NDP team.”
