While Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek is widely considered one of the safest Conservative-held seats in the province, four-term incumbent MP Kelly Block isn’t taking anything for granted as the federal election enters its final days.
“In every campaign, you have to continue to do the hard work right up to, and including, when the polls close on election day,” said Block in an interview on Wednesday, September 15. “I’ve been to literally very corner of the riding to talk to as many constituents as possible, and I’ve found most people are very receptive to the Conservative platform.
“The biggest issues on people’s minds, whether I’m talking to seniors, farmers, business owners or young families, is their concern about the government’s uncontrolled spending and the growing federal debt.”
This past summer’s drought and its negative impact on agriculture is also a hot topic on the doorstep, she added.
“But the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and getting our economy back on track, is still top of mind for most people,” she said.
Block, a former Mayor of Waldheim, was first elected to the House of Commons representing the riding of Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar in October, 2008. She was re-elected in the next federal election in May, 2011. She was elected as the MP for the newly-created riding of Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek in 2015 and again in 2019.
Election day in the current campaign is Monday, September 20.
Block said one of the differences between the current campaign and past ones is the level of resentment among voters over the timing of the election.
“Most people I talk to are very frustrated that Justin Trudeau called an unnecessary, $600 million election in the middle of a serious pandemic,” said Block. “They follow that up with a desire for the Liberals to be defeated this time around.”
She said her message to voters it that the Conservatives offer the only viable alternative.
“A vote for any party other than the Conservatives is a vote for the Liberals,” said Block. “Our fight is truly about replacing Justin Trudeau. Only the Conservatives have a chance to do that.”
She said this election offers voters an opportunity to end Trudeau’s “culture of reckless spending, divisive politics, and broken promises” in Ottawa.
Some observers suggest that in the Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek riding, the upstart Maverick Party is mounting what may be the most visible campaign of the other parties.
“I haven’t paid too much attention to the other campaigns,” said Block. “I know they’re out there and they have some support, but I’m focusing on getting our own message out to voters.”
Diane Pastoor of Dalmeny is the Maverick Party candidate in the Carlton Tail-Eagle Creek riding. Harrison Andrushcak is carrying the colours for the Liberals, Micheal Bohach is the People’s Party of Canada candidate, Shannon O’Toole is running for the NDP, and Cherese Reemaul is the Green Party candidate.
Block said the high voter turnout at advance polls so far is a positive sign for the Conservatives.
“We have a strong advance poll strategy,” said Block. “Now we have to do the same for election day.”
In the other riding that encompasses a portion of the Clark’s Crossing Gazette coverage area, incumbent Conservative MP Kevin Waugh is also running a strong campaign. Other parties’ candidates in the Saskatoon Grasswood constituency include: Mark Friesen (People’s Party of Canada), Kyla Kitzul (NDP), Rokhan Sarwar (Liberals), and Gillian Walker (Green Party).