With the election just days away, the three candidates vying to become the next MLA for the Estevan Constituency made their pitch to voters Thursday night.
The all-candidates' forum, which was organized by the Estevan and District Board of Tourism, Trade and Commerce, was staged at the Royal Canadian Legion before roughly 60 onlookers who came out to hear from incumbent Sask. Party MLA Doreen Eagles, NDP candidate Blair Schoenfeld and Sigfredo Gonzalez of the Green Party.
The largely lacklustre event was marred by unanswered questions, grandstanding from audience members and recriminations about perceived past misdeeds by the candidates' particular parties.
The evening began with the opportunity for the candidates to introduce themselves and offer a position statement. Gonzalez took to the podium first and said he decided to run for the Greens because they are the only party with policies that would benefit the majority of Saskatchewan.
He added that under both the NDP and Sask. Party the province has continued to battle the same issues - health care, education and high rent - and neither party appears to have any solutions.
"We are going to do something," said Gonzalez. "I remember the first time I ran against Doreen. We had a problem with health care, the shortage of doctors. We still have the same problem, and I don't see any solution coming forward. Where are we going?"
Schoenfeld's opening borrowed heavily from his party's message of ensuring the province's recent run of prosperity is enjoyed by all segments of the population.
"This election is an opportunity to take stock of where we are," Schoenfeld told the audience. "I believe we want a province in which people take care of people; a society that nurtures the young and takes care of its elders, a society that ensures health care that is accessible to all, not just those who have big pocket books and a society that invests in the future by investing in education."
Much like Schoenfeld, Eagles also stuck to the party line, saying that the Sask. Party government is the one to keep Saskatchewan's run of prosperity rolling although she admitted there is still much work to be done, particularly on the health care front. Eagles added she is proud of her party's work in the Estevan Constituency.
"Benefits such as the clean coal plant at Boundary Dam at a $1.2 billion price tag which will bring jobs to our community," she said. "This cutting edge technology is something that the world is watching and will emulate. The Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute will be beneficial not only to the people of this province but beyond our border and also allows local people to take their training here at home. The provincial government was also a major contributor to Spectra Place."
Eagles also began a trend that would carry on between herself and Schoenfeld throughout the night when she took a shot at the record of the NDP during their 16 years in government.
"What was done to this province for 16 years will take more than four years to fix."
Following the opening salvos, the candidates had a chance to answer questions they had submitted earlier to the organizers of the forum. Eagles' question centred on the province's resource revenue which has been a hot button issue as the NDP claims the province should be charging potash companies a higher royalty rate.
Eagles said the key for Saskatchewan is stability and used Alberta as a cautionary tale, noting when former premier Ed Stelmach began jockeying with royalty rates oil companies began fleeing the province. Gonzalez was quick to rebut Eagles' assertion, saying the potash companies have too much invested to leave while Schoenfeld said $263 million for Saskatchewan on $5 billion of potash is not enough of a return.
Schoenfeld's question focused on housing and said as a renter he has experienced the increased prices first hand. He added an NDP government will move quickly to enact rent controls.
"We need to end these out of control rent increases as soon as we are elected."
Eagles was quick to point out it was the NDP that ended rent control when they were in power and said part of the problem is that they did not plan for growth while in government. Gonzalez pointed out that the Green Party would work with the private sector to build low-cost housing.
The final submitted question was to Gonzalez and focused on the Green Party's plan for education. He noted the party would ensure education is fully funded to ensure the best possible education for the province's youth.
Schoenfeld said one of the biggest issues he has heard while knocking on doors is the fact roughly 350 educational assistants have been laid off in Saskatchewan. Eagles was quick to note these decisions were made by the individual school boards who feel that adding social worker and occupational therapy positions will also be beneficial to students.
The remainder of the evening centred on questions from the TTC and members of the audience.
While some of the people asking questions used their time at the microphone to make statements, others seemed to zero in on Schoenfeld, asking the NDP candidate a number of pointed questions including why he should be the MLA for the Estevan Constituency.
A couple of local topics - the doctor shortage and the twinning of Highways 39 and 6 - also rose to the fore. Schoenfeld reiterated the NDP pledge to twin the highways while Eagles' said as much as she might like to, she cannot, as the government has already stated they have other areas which must be dealt with first.
On the doctor issue, Eagles said she is proud of her work in helping the local health committee recruit more doctors to Estevan and has also been working in Regina on immigration and approval issues.
Voters throughout the constituency will head to the polls Monday.
In Estevan, there are seven different polling stations throughout the city. Depending on their location voters will head to the Living Hope Church, Alliance Church, Pleasantdale School, St. Mary's School, Westview School, Hillcrest School or St. John the Baptist Community Centre.
In Bienfait voters will be able to cast their ballot at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall. The advance poll in Estevan will be located at the Living Hope Church. The advance poll will be open from Wednesday to Friday from 3 to 10 p.m. On Saturday the poll will be open from noon to 7 p.m. For a complete list of polling stations and other information voters can go to: http://www.elections.sk.ca/voters/find-my-constituency/estevan?poll=Estevan22
