They figure they can win the hearts and minds of the electorate on the environmental front, it's the rest of the Green Party's platform that needs selling, said Victor Lau, the leader of the provincial Greens who was in Estevan last Thursday to meet with Estevan Constitutency candidate Sigfredo Gonzalez.
Gonzalez has carried the Green banner in previous provincial and federal campaigns and Lau said he was pleased to see him back in the fold for this provincial runup to the election on Nov. 7. The two spent some time with media and doing a little community mainstreeting.
"The Green Party has cultural values, economic, health and education platforms we need to get out to the public," Lau said.
"We are promoting a policy of there being one Saskatchewan, no urban/rural splits or North and Â鶹´«Ã½AV divisions," Lau said during an interview in The Mercury office.
Gonzalez and Lau felt that selling the party's environmental policies in the heart of coal country, even clean coal country, isn't that intimidating, but they do tout the seeking out of alternative energy sources, especially solar.
"SaskPower seems to be a little afraid of decentralization and we're not. Chasing after oil and coal is OK, I suppose. Investing $1.2 billion in a clean coal without looking at the other options may not be the best solution. There is a need to investigate and the Crown utilities aren't even looking at it. We need to have a grid system that can be fed into by power producers in a sustainable manner," Lau said.
Pointing to Germany where he said there is some enlightenment in political and power generation circles, the Green Party that has been there for 40 years, is winning the day politically and on the power grid front, they're shutting down their nuclear plants in favour of alternatives.
"In Saskatchewan, the Green Party is 12 years old. We should be starting to get a few MLAs elected soon," the new Green Party leader said. Lau is running as a candidate in Regina's Douglas Park Constituency.
Lau, who had been the leader previously, gave up the post around 2007 to get married and start a family. He returned as the deputy leader just recently and was foisted into the top job when previous leader, Larissa Shasko, quit suddenly and moved into the NDP camp.
That was a bit of a watershed moment for the Greens, said Lau. The party found, "a great degree of resolve. We didn't quit. In fact, if we can get all the paperwork done in time, we'll have candidates in all 58 ridings. We have them nominated, but we have to get the paperwork done by Oct. 22. Hopefully we can get it done with the help of our volunteers," he said.
In the meantime Lau is travelling throughout the province, giving the party more exposure and lending support to a growing list of local candidates.
"One thing we're doing for criticism of the Sask. Party is pointing out that most of this past summer's flood victims still don't have their cheques yet. I think that's something our candidates can go after."
"Our health care system is bad in this region," said Gonzalez. "We were down to just a few doctors. Our babies are being born in Regina because we can't deliver them in Estevan. That's just crazy."
"We hear about building new hospitals, but they'll have fewer beds in them than the ones they are replacing yet the health system is crying out for more spaces whether it be for patients or long-term care," said Lau. "We have a participatory style to give to governance. Current health boards, these appointed boards, are dysfunctional and they are over-administrated. It's time to get the people involved again. The top down approach we have in Saskatchewan now is the exact opposite of what we want to do."
Whether it be health care or education, Lau said the Green Party stood for communities coming together to arrive at local solutions, "not listening to someone who is dictating, which is what is going on now," Lau added.
Lau said he's hoping that the Green Party can break through with a good percentage of the vote and elect more than one MLA.
"I was hesitant at first. I'm busy and can't commit to a lot of door knocking, but I think a lot of people know me and the Green Party tells a new story. Those other two tell the old story. We bring something different to the table," said Gonzalez. "Yes, we have that stigma of being the people who are just out hugging trees, that's the difficulty for us. We are more than a one-issue party."
"We have a platform for eliminating ambulance fees and a plan on how to pay doctors. We want to bring educational assistants back into the schools. There is a looming crisis with special needs students. We need resources for them before the system for them collapses. There is too much forced feeding in our elementary education system," Lau said.
"We have plans for handling resource wealth. Saskatchewan has a huge resource play going on right now, and it's not being managed efficiently at all."
On the strategic front, Lau said he had heard that the Sask. Party would be counting on picking up the votes from the disaffected Liberals since they are only running a handful of candidates in this election.
"They believe they have the Liberal vote, but I believe many of them will vote Green. It's not a natural default for the Liberals to move into the Sask. Party camp," Lau said.
Lau, who is the first leader of a provincial party to make his way into the Estevan Constituency since the election writ was dropped Oct.10, said he was on his way to Moosomin, Rocanville, Yorkton, Canora, Pelly, Saskatoon and Lloydminster and had already been to the southwestern sector of the province, getting the name and party platform better known.
"It's a short campaign. I'm sure they planned it that way. It works in Brad Wall's favour, but we're getting known and we have some resources we can devote to the effort. We don't have much money, but we have signatures and volunteers, a story and resolve," Lau said in conclusion.
Gonzalez said he'll be prepared for the Oct. 27 town forum/debate that will bring the three local candidates together for an evening to discuss their respective platforms and to critique their opponent's stances on a variety of local, regional and provincial issues.
