Saskatchewan voters, including those in the provincial constituency of Canora-Pelly head to the polls Monday, Oct. 26.
To help voters know the candidates, and their positions on some key issues, Yorkton This Week/The Marketplace submitted five questions to each candidate via the email on the Saskatchewan Elections site, and asked them to submit their responses by Oct. 19; the questions and answers of those candidates who responded follow.
Q) Municipalities are suffering an infrastructure deficit, from town streets and water lines to rural roads and bridges. Would you be calling for additional funding to help municipalities if elected MLA?
Robert Hayes
– Buffalo Party
I understand the struggle with rural municipalities running an infrastructure deficit. If elected I would push for additional funding and look at other ways to help the RM’s bring their deficits down.
We will work more closely with rural municipalities to develop programs and incentives to build on their infrastructure.
Stacey Strykowski
– New Democrats
Existing infrastructure in our communities is ageing while demand for better roads, cleaner water systems and improved sewage services increases. Yet Scott Moe and the Sask Party’s record of austerity has put improvements like these out of reach for municipalities. We know if he’s re-elected things won’t change--he’s already promised four more years of austerity.
New Democrats believe these services are important to keeping families safe and healthy, that’s why we’ve made the significant commitment to fulfill the SaskBuilds capital plan alongside several other local infrastructure projects.
Q) What would your government do to bolster healthcare in rural areas and keep facilities like rural ERs open and doctors in smaller rural communities to serve local residents?
Robert Hayes
– Buffalo Party
We will bring forward legislation to ensure our rural healthcare will be available to all residents. This means more doctors, nurses, beds, and emergency responders.
We will bring forward legislation that will increase private/ public MRI program and bring CT scans under the same program with more availability in the rural areas that need it most.
Stacey Strykowski
– New Democrats
Everyone deserves access to high quality, timely health care no matter your postal code. The Sask Party’s cuts and underfunding have left our health system in crisis. Our emergency rooms are bursting at the seams, there are currently more than 28,000 people in Saskatchewan waiting for surgery and the number of people waiting for an MRI has doubled. Instead of ramping investment in our public health care system, the Sask. Party has doubled down on their failed American-style MRI experiment.
New Democrats will make smart investments so health care is available when and where you need it. Through investments in the frontlines of long-term and acute care, we will work to end understaffing on the frontlines of health care. We will also introduce legislation end the Sask Party’s patient-pay private MRI system that led to people waiting twice as long for an MRI.
Q) COVID-19 is going to have health and economic impact beyond even the next year. What would your government do to support people while the pandemic goes on, and what do we need to do for the coming recovery period?
Robert Hayes
– Buffalo Party
We would push for the removal of the National Transfer Payment Program as it is unfair for us. Each province must learn to work within their means.
We will demand the finalization, construction and completion of the national pipelines.
We will bring forward legislation for the removal of the unfair carbon tax, and bring legislation to make such a tax illegal in Sask.
Preference will be given to Saskatchewan companies.
We will bring forward legislation for corporate tax structure on start-up upgraders and refineries.
We will work with municipalities for access for our natural resources.
Stacey Strykowski
– New Democrats
Saskatchewan families are worried--about their health, their kids, their businesses and their futures. They want leadership that relies on experts, especially as the risk of a second wave increases. Scott Moe and the Sask Party haven’t delivered the kind of leadership our province needs to guide us through a pandemic. He’s flunked the back to school plan, failed the test on testing, and out our economy at risk.
New Democrats are putting the health and safety of families. We would invest in health care, make class sizes small in schools and take a raft of measures to jumpstart our economy--like start-up loans for new rural businesses, lowered SGI rates, a $10 million investment to help workers train and stay competitive and more.
We know real leadership is about listening to public health experts and doing everything possible to support families and businesses so that Saskatchewan can come back stronger than ever.
Q) With a continuing trend toward fewer rural residents, what will you do, if elected, to ensure agriculture remains a priority for the government?
Robert Hayes
– Buffalo Party
We will bring forward legislation for “Young Farmers Initiative” to create a program for Independent Sask. Farmers under 40 yrs. to be able to start up, invest and succeed.
-legislation for a corporate tax structure for start-up Agriculture for small/medium size businesses in Sask.
Stacey Strykowski
– New Democrats
Producers and their families are up against a lot these days: international trade disputes, pandemic-related supply chain challenges and the constant threat of climate change. Producers know more than most that stewardship of our threatened natural resources are paramount, especially as a robust response to climate change is needed now more than ever. We cannot continue with the Sask Party’s broken plan of pitting economic growth and environmental sustainability against each other.
A key plank in our platform is Renew Saskatchewan. Along with setting emissions targets, investments in energy efficiency, and expanding wind, solar, and geothermal opportunities, Renew Saskatchewan will work with producers to strengthen the agricultural industry.
Unlike Scott Moe and the Sask Party, who prefer to ignore problems, New Democrats are committed to listening to producers and their families and working with them to find innovative solutions to the challenges facing our Ag communities.
Q) Why do you believe you are the best candidate to represent your riding over the next four years?
Robert Hayes
– Buffalo Party
I believe that I would be the best candidate because I am your average everyday Saskatchewan person. I have worked in various industries and have seen the struggles of the average person.
I will stand up for the people of Saskatchewan. I will listen to their concerns and push hard to have them resolved.
I believe Saskatchewan can be a leader in our country, but we need the people of Saskatchewan to make it happen.
We as the Buffalo Party will give Saskatchewan back to the people, where we can stand united for the better of our great Province.
Let’s make Saskatchewan great again.
Stacey Strykowski
– New Democrats
We’ve been through a lot as a province in recent months as we grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this challenging time, Saskatchewan people have stepped up, to keep each other safe and help each other out. But even before the pandemic, life was getting harder as our province faced a recession.
We’ve faced years of cuts and Canora-Pelly families are feeling stretched. They’re worried about how to pay the bills. And they’re worried about what four more years of cuts will do to our province. Now is not the time for more cuts. That’s not the right approach. It slows down our economy and it hurts people.
I believe Canora-Pelly families deserve better. I’m running with a new vision for Canora-Pelly one that will get our economy moving and help people through this challenging time. I’m running because I believe Canora-Pelly families deserve a government that invests in our province and its people first.
