Strong fall gusts blew through downtown on Sept. 29 as Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili visited the community during the first day of the 2020 provincial election campaign.
“Well, the winds of change are blowing in Moose Jaw today,” he chuckled during a press conference held at the campaign office of Moose Jaw Wakamow candidate Melissa Patterson on 63 High Street West.
Flanked by Patterson and Moose Jaw North candidate Kyle Lichtenwald, Meili — who grew up on an area farm — said Saskatchewanians have a choice this election: either Sask. Party leader Scott Moe’s vision of cuts and austerity, or the NDP’s vision of investing in people and helping citizens make it through difficult times.
By offering cuts, Moe is saying that the provincial government can’t afford to support child care, education, seniors and or quality jobs, said Meili. However, he believed that was the wrong approach, and instead, the NDP planned to offer a better solution for Moose Jaw and Saskatchewan.
Specifically, the party would invest in schools and smaller class sizes, mental health, health care, better home care for seniors, and local workers employed on provincial jobs.
“This is what we are able to do and it’s the choice before us,” said Meili. “And as we go forward between now and (Monday), Oct. 26, these winds of change will continue to blow.”
During a media scrum afterward, Meili said visiting Moose Jaw was important since he grew up here and he wanted to stay connected with the community. He praised Patterson and Lichtenwald and said they are ready to represent residents in the legislature.
“This is a town that’s been forgotten by the Sask. Party. We’ve lost so many government jobs here; we just haven’t seen the investment from the Sask. Party in this town. And this is something that needs to change,” he continued.
Many residents are ready for a change, Meili remarked, particularly based on the conversations he’s had while door-knocking. He thought the province was at a crossroads since citizens needed to choose a government that would best respond to the pandemic and long-term recovery.
Meili thought the NDP has a realistic chance of capturing both seats in the community. He noted that Lichtenwald is a teacher who many people know, while Patterson is a big union organizer and community volunteer.
“People are pretty tired of Mr. (Greg) Lawrence (and) they were pretty tired of Mr. (Warren) Michelson of not getting them anything in Regina (and) not advancing the needs of Moose Jaw, so there’s a real appetite for change,” said Meili, noting he has visited the city many times during the past few years.
The choice between the NDP plan and Sask. Party plan is pretty clear, especially with jobs, stated Meili. With SaskPower building a plant here, he thought it was important that those jobs go to local workers who might be struggling or unemployed.
The NDP will attempt to make in-roads in the rural areas this election, an area in which the party has not had much success of late.
Meili indicated he and his team have spent plenty of time outside the cities with the rural candidates. Rural residents have said they feel as if Moe and the Sask. Party have taken their support for granted.
“I think that’s the most dangerous thing a politician can do, is assume they’ve got support without ever having to work for it,” said Meili, noting that killing off the Saskatchewan Transportation Company, failing to support farmers and sending jobs away have all affected rural communities.
“Folks in rural Saskatchewan, he added, “have the chance and the choice to make a change right now … .”
