MOOSE JAW — The Green Party candidate for Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan isn’t just campaigning to win votes — he’s campaigning to amplify voices he believes mainstream parties often overlook.
“I want to be a voice for Indigenous peoples (and)… minorities; I want to bring up things like human rights that are being challenged…,” said Mike Gardiner, a social worker and student who said his candidacy is more about advocacy than electoral victory.
“I’m running so I can use the platform to… be a voice for people who aren’t usually heard in these kinds of elections.”
Gardiner, who resides in Moose Jaw, said he’s focused on raising awareness of human rights, environmental protection, and social justice — topics he said are often sidelined during election cycles dominated by economic promises.
“Most people are focused on… what tax breaks they can get, or what supports they can get — and most of us are middle class…,” he said. “I’m focused on what we are going to do for people who are struggling the most, and they’re largely being ignored, I find.”
Gardiner is a strong advocate for small businesses and local economies, viewing them as key to building a healthy, sustainable future. He supports redirecting corporate tax revenue to help small businesses offer living wages, remain competitive, and achieve long-term stability.
He promotes cooperative ownership models where employees hold a stake in their workplace, which he believes fosters greater motivation and local investment. His vision draws inspiration from mid-20th-century economic models where higher corporate taxes helped build strong public infrastructure and local prosperity.
At the core of his platform is the belief that many societal challenges stem from unmet basic needs. Drawing on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, he argues that when essentials like food, housing, and security go unfulfilled, it contributes to widespread issues like mental health struggles, addiction, and crime.
To address this, he supports a universal basic income, suggesting that billions currently spent on fossil fuel subsidies could instead fund a program ensuring all Canadians can meet their basic needs.
The Green Party’s environmental platform still plays a key role in his message.
“We actually rely on the environment to live,” Gardiner noted. He emphasized the vital role of pollinators, pointing to a conservative estimate stating that around 300 species go extinct each year, and urged people to shift their mindset about nature. He said the environment is often seen as something to control or use, rather than something to live in harmony with — contrasting with Indigenous teachings that he advocates for.
Gardiner views “common sense” not as a universal truth, but as a product of early childhood experiences shaped by parental beliefs and limited exposure to the world. He argues that these worldviews often become rigid by around the age of six, making it hard to understand diverse perspectives.
His message is a call to refocus on community, empathy, and collective well-being. Quoting a line from a documentary, “We used to live in a society; now we live in an economy,” he urges a shift away from self-interest and profit-driven thinking towards a more compassionate, community-centered approach.
His vision challenges people to think critically, care more deeply about one another, and reimagine systems that prioritize connection, with inspiration from marginalized communities, science, and evolving social norms.
“I feel that, if I can be a voice for people who are not normally listened to, then I will have checked that box (despite the election outcome),” he said.
Gardiner invites residents to reach out at [email protected]. For more information, visit or find “” on Facebook, “” on Instagram, or “gardinerforhope” on BlueSky.
The upcoming federal election is scheduled for Monday, April 28.
