MARTENSVILLE—As the provincial election campaigns enter the homestretch, the Saskatchewan Party and Saskatchewan NDP continue to woo provincial voters for their respective caucuses to earn the 4majority needed to form a government.
The provincial elections’ voting week begins on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and ends on Monday, Oct. 28. The province is divided into 61 constituencies—14 for Saskatoon, 12 for Regina, and two each for Moose Jaw and Prince Albert. The rest have one each.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, in a campaign stop in Martensville with candidates Terry Jensen (Warman), who is running for re-election, and Jamie Martens (Martensville-Blairmore), said the sacrifices made by Allied soldiers in World War II earned everyone the ability to vote.
“We live in a great place in Saskatchewan and Canada. Just this year, we celebrated the 80th anniversary of D-Day. That was, you know, the end of a war that was fought so that we have the right to vote in Canada and the right to vote in Saskatchewan. Whether it be in our provincial election, a municipal election or a school division election,” said Moe.
“I would ask Saskatchewan residents and family members to take that right very seriously and to look at the candidate and the party that you're voting for and the policies that they have and whether they best reflect your views and also whether that party is going to ensure that the next four years they are going to lay the groundwork for an opportunity for that next generation for our children.”
He added that everyone has the right to vote, and no one should take it for granted, as many have lost their lives defending the freedoms that we enjoy today that is why he is encouraging people to participate in voting week to avoid long lines on Monday, Oct. 28, to exercise their democratic right.
“Confidence isn't really the question. We're going to do everything we can to find our way out whether in Martinsville or Warman or any of the 61 constituents across the province to get out and talk to people about the importance of voting and the difference between the plans that we have,” said Moe.
“A plan that is ensuring that we have that strong economy and that bright future. Our plan and a record of the NDP which is one of decline, loss, enclosures and in some cases not answering questions with respect to what their policies are and so you know that's what our focus is to work hard in the lead up to the election.”
Moe said thousands of their volunteers along with all of their candidates will continue knocking on doors in the final days leading to the election next week to encourage every resident to vote, as it would determine the everyone’s opportunities, especially the children, in the future.
“People can expect that there's going to be a Saskatchewan Party candidate or volunteer on their door encouraging them to exercise the right that that was afforded to us through, as I said, that 80th year celebration of D-Day just this summer. Those are the folks that fought for our right to vote and we're going to go out and ask people to exercise [that right],” said Moe.
NDP to work to the very end
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck said they will work harder in the last week of this election during a campaign stop with 17 of their candidates that included all 14 in the city along with Erica Baerwald (Warman), Tammy Pike (Martensville-Blairmore), and Jordan Wiens (Dakota-Arm River).
“There are seven more days. We're going to make sure we work right until the very end, and as I said, we're so close. People can vote for change this election. Obviously, it is advance voting week as well. You can expect a lot of hard work [for us]. We know people are looking for change. They need to get out and vote. Your vote does matter; it matters more than ever right now in this province,” said Beck.
“Convince your neighbours to get out and vote. People say my vote doesn't matter; your vote matters in this election. People are looking for change, and the only way we're going to get that change is if people get out and vote, and that's what we're going to do over the next seven days is to make sure that everyone in this province understands how close this race is.”
Beck, who is running for re-election for the constituency of Regina Lakeview, and Saskatchewan NDP have been routinely criticizing Moe and the Saskatchewan Party on how they allegedly mishandled the issues on the province’s education and healthcare.
“If you are looking for change or looking for better health care and relief on day one, you must get out and vote. It's been exciting. You know, we've been right across the province hearing from people really that they're looking for a change and we're hearing that in rooms like this in the cities, but we were just in the north, we're hearing it out there, we're hearing it back in small communities right across the province,” said Beck.
“People are looking for change, and we're proud of what we're putting forward. We're proud of the work that we're doing, but we're not giving up. There are seven more days. We're going to make sure we work right until the very end, and as I said, we're so close. People can vote for change this election. You can expect a lot of hard work. We've been doing that all along, we're not letting up now. You can expect more from us.”
She added their volunteers and candidates are expected to knock on more doors and make more phone calls to get their message out. “More volunteers are showing up and we've got people showing up every day, still asking for signs, still saying hey how do I help?”
Beck said if the provincial NDP is given the chance to form a government they are committed to suspending the 15 cents per litre gas tax, like what their counterpart in Manitoba did early this year, to offer relief to provincial residents.
“We've committed to that [suspending gas tax], offering relief. People, they've been waiting a long time for that relief. [We’re] getting to work right away on day one, fixing health care; those are the top two priorities. You can expect that we are going to continue to focus on the number one priorities of people right across this province: fixing health care, offering relief on the cost of living on day one,” said Beck.
