Now that they are out of the starting gate, the Estevan Constituency New Democrats aren't wasting any time in launching their 2011 provincial campaign.
About 50 of the party's faithful crowded into the United Mine Workers' union hall Saturday afternoon to elect Blair Schoenfeld as their candidate in next November's general election.
Schoenfeld outpolled Morris Johnson for the right to represent the party in a secret ballot runoff following the party's annual general constituency meeting chaired by interim president Larry Ward who was filling in for recently departed constituency president Taren Trew who is now residing in Regina.
Schoenfeld will be running against Sask. Party incumbent MLA Doreen Eagles in the election with the campaign expected to begin in earnest this summer.
But the rhetoric heard on Saturday had a definite tinge of electioneering attached to it as Trent Wotherspoon, the Regina-Rosemount NDP MLA who is his party's caucus shadow representative in the Energy City, spared no criticism of the current government, while Schoenfeld promised a campaign filled with promise and priorities.
Johnson, who ran in a previous election, failed to gain the necessary support to carry the banner again. He was nominated by Len Haukeness while Schoenfeld was nominated by Evelyn Johnson, who noted that the candidate had previous banking and farm consultancy work in his background. He is now involved as a building supplies sales agent.
The bar was set high for us by the likes of Douglas, Blakeney, Romanow. These were men who other leaders looked to for guidance," said Schoenfeld in his 15 minute address prior to the vote.
"I've lived in southern Saskatchewan my entire life and I remember when the other guys got elected and then the NDP would come back in and raise the standard of living again for everyone. We need a solid plan and Brad Wall doesn't have one," said Schoenfeld.
"Why is food bank use up? why are there record numbers of Saskatchewan people just one paycheque away from homelessness? We need a rainy day fund that will work. Look at last summer's natural disasters. Wall is not meeting the standards. When I first arrived here 10 years ago, a person could rent a big apartment for $500 a month, now it's well over $1,000," the newly-minted candidate said.
"We're blessed here with resource revenues but why is there so much need in Estevan and area? Retired people want to move out of their larger homes, but they can?t find affordable smaller places. I don't believe the Wall government is interested in housing. He said he'll look at it, set up a committee. We all know what that means. When a government doesn't want to do anything, they set up a committee. If we don't get a hold of the royalties, you?ll be paying additional taxes in the future," Schoenfeld said.
"If you elect me, I'll see to it you get a fair share. Wall is just leaving collateral damage on the roadside. There are too many people already on his scrap heap of progress. This province needs a grassroots party that knows how to co-operate, share and provide policies that help people," Schoenfeld said.
"It's not about me or you, it's about what we can accomplish. I'm not going to go out there spouting my opinions, it's what this constituency wants and needs is what I'll be talking about and I look forward to working with more of you," Schoenfeld said in conclusion.
Prior to the candidates' speeches, Wotherspoon levelled some blistering attacks on the current administration.
"We're up against a three-year government with more money than anybody has ever had before yet they have no sense of managing it. They're good at getting big dollars for themselves from outside the province to run their campaign. They have deep pockets," he warned the party faithful in Estevan.
"The issues around here, around Estevan, are ripe for some leadership. You have rent and cost of living problems that are magnified in this city. It's worse here than it is in Regina. It's affecting the quality of life of many here. Brad Wall boasts that Saskatchewan has accrued more money than ever before and I say yes, some companies, some people have, but not all families have access to that wealth. There is a disconnect in how you manage resource riches. They have to understand what real prosperity means and that doesn't mean young mothers being ousted from rental accommodations with no options. When that goes on, we haven't prospered yet.
"Brad Wall is disconnected from southeast Saskatchewan in many ways including health care. When you have a doctor shortage like you have now in Estevan, you haven't prospered yet. That's just an absence of responsible government. Wall talks about money flowing into government. So what do they do with it' So far they've run two consecutive deficit budgets and had to drain $1.2 billion from the Crowns to balance the books. This is unsustainable grabbing," Wotherspoon said. "That means they'll be charging you, the consumer, more to make up the deficit. Taking equity out of the Crowns, how is that prosperity?"
Wotherspoon went on to say that many young professionals are returning to Saskatchewan, but getting discouraged when they discover they can't finance a home or can't arrange long-term care for loved ones.
"That's happening in your area and this is the hub of economic activity in Saskatchewan and it's not shutting off any time soon, so why are we not standing up for some leadership here in Estevan. Sure, you play the big part, feel the pressure coming from the rest of the province and you feel the need to equip other communities to succeed as well. That's why we call for potash royalty reviews. They'll paint us as being anti-business for that, but that's not true. We strive for balance and for standing up for all of Saskatchewan's people," he said.
In closing and in response to a question from the floor, Wotherspoon said that the oil royalty structure in Saskatchewan is significantly different from the potash royalty scheme since the royalty rate on oil escalates with the price of the commodity while potash royalties remain historically low at any price.
"That's why even right wing business voices are saying Saskatchewan needs a potash royalty review and Mr. Wall should realize pretty soon that he's supposed to be representing all of Saskatchewan's shareholders, not just a few."
Following the speeches and business portion of the meeting, a donation drive was launched to assist with the local campaign expenses that will be mounting once it officially begins.
