WEYBURN - These days political conversations are always a delicate situation. I consider it better not to engage in a political conversation myself, as there are many people who have strong political stances. It can be tough to express an opinion, when you know that your thoughts and feelings are not aligned with that strong political stance.
As a reporter, I also try to keep an open mind to the different party platforms, especially during an election year (and we will have elections for both City Council and the provincial government this year).
There was a push recently by the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association to not have both the provincial and civic election in the fall. Currently, the provincial election is set for October 28, and the civic election is set for November 13 (as approved in the provincial local government elections act). That is two weeks between each election. That puts the pressure on gathering election workers and organizers to help at voting polls.
I have an easier time when there is only one election to focus on, as I can research each of the candidates who are vying for a vote, and make a well-educated and informed choice come election day. As a voter, I would have preferred to have the civic election at a different time of year (SUMA was pushing for the spring of 2025), to allow some separation between the two events.
There is always going to be political discontent, where there is a strong disapproval with how issues are handled by the current government. This is especially true in Saskatchewan, with the feeling of displeasure with how the Liberal government (and specifically Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) is handling some of the federal bills and acts.
There are grassroots political parties that feel that they could do a better job at the provincial and federal level. Reform to a political party isn’t new in Saskatchewan, as long as there is careful thought and consideration as to how to truly impact change – and not just talk about making things change.
There is a challenge when you have several new parties that have similar agendas. We might see candidate options for the Buffalo Party, the Saskatchewan United Party, and even the True North party this fall. From the outside, the ideals presented by these three new parties are very similar, as the main focus is to advocate for government reforms. There has even been talk about unifying these parties – and they might become stronger and more unified if that does happen.
It is important to have a clear vision for the future, and not just about what members of the party want to change, but also if they are open to conversations with other residents who are not a member of the party. We have to remember that we are still in a democratic system, and it is the party that appeals to the majority of voters who gets elected to power.
I encourage voters to research the different options for candidates in the upcoming provincial election, and to always make the best choice that would actually make an impact or effective change. It is also important to do the same research when it comes to the civic election, and the candidates who are vying for council, and also for the federal election, which is currently slated for October 2025. We have lots of opportunity to make change happen. Let us make sure we vote in the right people for the job.
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