By TERRY PUGH
Erica Baerwald believes Saskatchewan people are ready for a change in government at the provincial level.
The Hepburn resident, who was elected to her community’s municipal council in 2020, was chosen to carry the colours for the NDP in the new constituency of Warman at a nominating meeting July 8 in Warman. She won the contested nomination with a majority of votes over fellow candidate Mark Thunderchild.
The provincial election is slated for Monday, October 28.
“After 17 years under the Sask Party, people are ready for a change,” said Baerwald in a phone interview August 27. “On the doorsteps I ask people: ‘Are you better off now than you were 17 years ago?’ And what I’m hearing from most people is ‘No.’
“People are struggling to pay bills; our hospitals and schools are in chaos, and people just don’t trust this government.”
Baerwald said her motivation for seeking a seat in the provincial Legislature is to improve the quality of life for Saskatchewan residents.
“I’m a town councillor in Hepburn,” said Baerwald. “Through my involvement on council, I’ve grown to be very passionate about what’s happening in my local community and other communities.
“We have so much potential, as evidence by the growth of Warman; but I feel like our current provincial government is not delivering on things that matter most to people; things like health care and education.”
Baerwald said Saskatchewan used to be a leader in social programs.
“We used to have the best hospitals in Canada,” she said. “Now we’re among the worst. We know that we are last in funding per student in Canada. I believe change starts with listening to people on the front lines; the educators and nurses. They’re the people who know best how to fix the system.”
She said the NDP has called for a task force to be struck on health care.
“As we’re ramping up for the election, the NDP has put forward an exciting plan for forming government,” said Baerwald. “Our leader, Carla Beck, is ready. She’s focused on the issues we’re hearing about on the doorsteps. I’m committed to being part of that team and advocating for our riding. We have incredible potential and we deserve to be heard at the provincial level.”
Baerwald and her husband have two sons. She is a manager at an international relief and development organization. She is the Hepburn town council representative on the Prairie Rivers Reconciliation Committee, and is also the Hepburn representative on the Wheatland Regional Library’s executive board.
Baerwald said her professional career has been “people-focused” and included working in the areas of recruitment, administration and strategic business planning.
“I now work in human resources and management,” she said. “Each of these experiences have shown me that people are our greatest asset, and collaborative, respectful relationships are vital to a thriving community.”
The Warman riding was created as a result of boundary changes, and includes the City of Warman, Town of Osler, Town of Hague, Town of Hepburn, and the hamlets of Neuanlage, Neuhorst, Gruenthal, Gruenfeld, Rheinland, Blumenthal, Blumenheim and Mennon.
Terry Jenson, Minister for Sask Builds and Procurement, is the Sask Party candidate for the Warman riding. Jenson was elected MLA for the former Martensville-Warman riding in the 2020 election.