SASKTODAY.ca staff reached out to the candidates in all of Saskatchewan's ridings with a universal questionnaire. We will be publishing these results in order they were received.
Name: Cherese Reemaul
Age: 32
Running for: Green Party, Carlton Trail — Eagle Creek
Profession: Non Profit Social Services
Currently residing in (city or neighbourhood): I live in Saskatoon
Previous political experience: None.
Who is your political hero?
Politicians are heros? If they are, I don’t think I have one.
What inspired you to enter the election race?
Saskatchewan has always been an environmental and energy leader – and we always will be. Yet, these conversations are progressing without Saskatchewan and I can’t for the life of me, understand why our current MPs aren’t doing anything about it. So here I go, hoping to fix that. I am not a career politician nor do I want to be one. I’m just hoping to fix this issue and then I could go back to working in the community and politicians can hopefully take that push start and run with it.
What topics are most important to you in this federal election?
Western Prioritization: for some reason Western Canada has been becoming increasingly alienated in this confederation that is Canada and my hunch is because it is from the lack of leadership in our current political leaders – so here I am – a regular everyday citizen trying to change it- just seizing the chance to go do it myself.
Are you concerned about the short campaign timeline for this election?
No, the shorter the better. The shorter it is, the less time people are going about getting angry at each other and trying to persuade each other and the more time we have to roll up our sleeves and get to work for Canada.
What supports, if any, do you feel are needed to help businesses and residents with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic?
The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) should be continued and should be moving into a permanent support category. For businesses, modified elements of the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS). In a perfect world, this would not come from the top-down. This should actually be coming from the bottom-up, where people, businesses and industries tell the government what would help them get back to profitable operations.
What, if any, agricultural federal programs and initiatives do you feel are necessary to help support farmers and ranchers in this year’s conditions?
The Agriculture Clean Technology Program and the Agriculture Climate Solutions Program, Agri Recovery, AgriStability, the newly launched customer support program for ranchers and farmers this year by Farm Credit Canada, the livestock tax deferral and also the newly launched program that was introduced by the feds in collaboration with the provinces regrading this year’s conditions. Again, in a perfect world, this would not come from the top-down. This should actually be coming from the bottom-up, where farmers and ranchers tell the government what would help them get back to profitable operations.
Is there an issue that people are focusing too much?
Vaccine passports are way too much of a debate than it should be.
Is there an issue that doesn’t get enough attention?
Only 21 out of 139 residential schools in this country have been searched and 6,509 unmarked graves of Indigenous children have been found thus far: Why isn’t anyone talking about this?
Why did you choose to run for your particular party?
It is the most grassroots and community minded party. And probably the least hateful of all the parties. Its breaks my heart that there’s at least two federal political parties in this election that has built itself on a foundation of hate.
What is the biggest issue facing your party’s chance at success?
Perception. There’s a lot that seem to be going on with the party right now, although, all the parties (and even most large workplaces) have their fair share of interpersonal issues.
How will you engage and encourage young voters to participate in this election?
Social media and visibility. I’d like to be out in the community walking around so people can chat with me about anything- especially our young people – they are our future. In a non COVID world- I would like to have more community events that people could come together for as opposed to using social media to engage with people. I find social media to be a pretty lonely place- it kind of glorifies being too busy to humanly interact with other humans.
What is your party’s leader’s biggest flaw?
Again, perception. There’s a lot that seems to be going on with her right now, although, all the parties (and even most large workplaces) have their fair share of interpersonal issues. I can’t really get more specific than that because I don’t know her that well personally. She’s new, and I’m also new to this party. I’ve never belonged to any political party before.
Once elected, your job is to represent your entire riding. How do you plan on representing individuals who didn’t vote for you? That will probably be my favorite part of the job. I’d love to chat with people who didn’t vote for me- and what it is that is alienating them and how can I most effectively address that and/or meet their needs/expectations (because if I do get elected- it would mean that most people voted for me)
What informs your political stance?
What books, publications, relationships or experiences? The world we live in, the communities around us, the people around me, the things I experience on a day to day basis – everyday people like vendors, small businesses, festivals, harvest season – those are the things that inspire and inform my political positions.
What local project or service would you advocate for more federal spending?
The Province of Saskatchewan is currently planning the new Saskatoon freeway project. This is a freeway that is almost entirely specifically in this riding and will be the largest infrastructure project in Saskatchewan's history. It will keep our communities, good and services moving in a faster, greener and more efficient manner. The federal government needs to step up its contributions to this project. The other big thing I hope to do, is call for an immediate ban on importing all foreign oil into Canada; because we have so much of it right here in the prairies, plus we’re going green, and also- I think it’ll do a lot for advancing my western Canadian agenda.
What is something people don’t know about you?
I’ve been watching the Golden Girls for 30 years.
