By TERRY PUGH
The race is on.
On Tuesday, October 1, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe asked the Lieutenant Governor to dissolve the legislative assembly and sign the writ of election, kicking off a month-long campaign that will see voters go to the polls on Monday, October 28.
At a news conference in Regina announcing the election, Moe stated his party intends to focus on affordability by reducing personal income tax and raising the Low Income Tax Credit. He promised to reduce income tax by raising the personal income tax exemption, the spousal exemption, the child exemption and the seniors supplement by $500 each year for the next four years.
“That will save a family of four $2100 over four years,” said Moe. “It will also save a senior couple $2100 over four years. When combined with our government’s indexation of personal tax rates, a family of four will save more than $3400 and a senior couple will save more than $3100 over the next four years.”
NDP Leader Carla Beck has also set her sights on tax relief, hoping her message will resonate with voters in the weeks leading up to the election. Over the past month, Beck has issued a series of promises, including a pledge to not raise taxes. She has also promised to eliminate the provincial sales tax on groceries and children’s clothing, and to suspend the 15 cent per litre provincial gas tax for six months if she is elected Premier. She’s also promised to implement measures to stop what she terms ‘out of control’ rent hikes.
“People are struggling, even those who haven’t struggled in the past,” said Beck. “We’ve got to lower costs and that’s exactly what we’ll do.”
Saskatchewan United Party Leader Jon Hromek unveiled his party’s platform on Wednesday, October 2, saying it offers a “true conservative option” for voters. He pledged to eliminate the provincial gas tax, cut the provincial sales tax in half to just 3%, and provide a 65% discount on property taxes for seniors living in their primary residences.
“By cutting the gas tax, the average family will save $600 per year at the pumps,” said Hromek. “By cutting the PST to 3%, the average family in Saskatchewan will save $1400 per year. That’s a combined savings of $8,000 over the next four years.”
The Progressive Conservative (PC) party platform also focuses on affordability. PC Leader Rose Buscholl characterized it as “a comprehensive multi-layer affordability plan for the province to ensure the well being of everyone in the province” that focuses on homebuilding, homebuying, and general family affordability, with numerous grants and tax breaks.
The Saskatchewan Green Party platform pledged to work toward raising the basic personal income tax exemption to a level above the poverty line, adding that no one under the poverty line should be paying income tax. The party also plans to replace the minimum wage “with a living wage, phased in over time so that anyone working full-time will earn enough to keep them out of poverty.”
At the time of its dissolution, the Legislature had the following composition: 42 Sask. Party seats, 14 NDP, one Saskatchewan United Party (SUP), three independent and one vacant seat.
To win a majority, a party must secure at least 31 seats from the province’s 61 constituencies. Seven of the constituencies up for grabs are within the Gazette coverage area:
* Rosthern-Shellbrook
* Warman
* Martensville-Blairmore
* Batoche
* Humboldt-Watrous
* Dakota-Arm River
* Rosetown-Delisle
SASK PARTY CANDIDATES
The governing Saskatchewan Party has nominated candidates in all seven ridings. They include:
* Scott Moe in Rosthern-Shellbrook. Moe is Premier of Saskatchewan. He was first elected in 2011 and has been leader of the Saskatchewan Party since 2018;
* Terry Jenson in Warman;. Jenson was elected in 2020. He is the founder and former owner of the Clark’s Crossing Gazette community newspaper, and a past president of the Saskatchewan Community Newspapers Association.
* Jamie Martens in Martensville-Blairmore. Martens served until recently as Deputy Mayor of Martensville and was first elected to Martensville City Council in 2012.
* Darlene Rowden in Batoche. Rowden has been a volunteer with the Saskatchewan Party’s Batoche constituency for 24 years;
* Racquel Hilbert in Humboldt-Watrous. Hilbert is former special educator and also the founder of a drilling company;
* Barret Kropf in Dakota-Arm River. Kropf is a sports coach and manager with 30 years experience;
* Jim Reiter in Rosetown-Delisle. Reiter was first elected to the Legislature in 2007. He is a former Rural Municipal Administrators’ Association president.
NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATES
The opposition NDP has also nominated candidates:
* Tammy Pike in Martensville-Blairmore. Pike works for the City of Martensville and is a union leader;
* Erica Baerwald in Warman. Baerwald has served on Hepburn Town Council and has worked for two decades in conflict resolution, policy research and program implementation;
* Trina Miller in Batoche. Miller is a postal worker who has served on the Prairie Spirit School Division board of trustees;
* Brenda Edel in Rosetown-Delisle. Edel is the president of an organization that lobbies for accessibility legislation in Saskatchewan;
* Mark Thunderchild in Rosthern-Shellbrook. Thunderchild is a member of the Thunderchild First Nation, a children’s author, community volunteer and Crown corporation technician;
* Jordan Wiens in Dakota Arm River. Wiens is an agrologist and community volunteer;
* Kevin Fallis in Humboldt Watrous. Fallis is a health care worker and union leader.
SASK UNITED PARTY CANDIDATES
The Sask United Party has nominated:
* Cody Lockhart in Rosthern-Shellbrook. Lockhart is a rancher and councillor in the RM of Canwood;
* Erin Nicole Spencer in Batoche. Spencer is an entrepreneur;
* Darren Ebenal in Dakota-Arm River. Ebenal is a farmer and former recreation director for the town of Biggar;
* Carrie-Ann Hradecki in Humboldt-Watrous. Hradecki is a teacher and entrepreneur.
PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE PARTY CANDIDATES
* Rose Buscholl in Humboldt-Watrous. Buscholl is the leader of the PC Party, a community volunteer and first responder;
* Raymond Carrick in Dakota-Arm River. Carrick is a farmer.
GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES
The Green Party candidates include:
* Hamish Graham in Batoche. Graham owns an orchard;
* Sharon Thibault in Humboldt-Watrous. Thibault is a steam plant engineer;;
* Sean Muirhead in Rosetown-Delisle. Muirhead has worked as a cook in restaurants in Rosetown for 28 years;
* Joseph Reynolds in Dakota Arm River. Reynolds is an anti-poverty, anti-war and Indigenous rights activist.
* Brittney Ricottone in Martensville-Blairmore (candidate’s bio information not available).
* Janice Dongworth in Rosthern Shellbrook. (candidate’s bio not available.);
