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Moe Pledges to Double Rink Grant, Introduce Playground Grant

Saskatchewan Party leader Scott Moe was back on the campaign trail yesterday following the leader’s debate on Wednesday.

Moe was campaigning in Moose Jaw alongside candidates Megan Patterson (Moose Jaw Wakamow), Tim McLeod (Moose Jaw North), Blaine McLeod (Lumsden-Morse), and Laura Ross (Regina Rochdale). Moe pledged that if re-elected he would double the existing rink grant and introduce a new playground grant. “We understand how important rinks and playgrounds are to Saskatchewan communities,” said Premier Scott Moe. “We want to make sure our communities remain vibrant and growing, and good recreational facilities are an important part of any community.”

Moe also pledged to create a new School Playground Equipment Fund of $3.75 million annually to help fund 50% of the cost of new school playground equipment to a maximum grant per playground project of $50,000. The grant is expected to fund 75 projects per year or 300 over the next four years.

Moe’s message of affordability and grant expansion was not the only news he made yesterday. At a campaign event in Moose Jaw, Moe said a re-elected Saskatchewan Party government’s first order of business would be to establish a policy around gendered use of change rooms in the province's schools. 

Moe said, "I'll be very clear, there will be a directive that would come from the Minister of Education that would say that biological boys will not be in the change room with biological girls."

The announcement came after the Western Standard published a story this week where a Balgonie parent said their daughter had been uncomfortable in a changing room at school with two other students who identified as female but were biologically male. When asked whether there were complaints from any other schools, the Saskatchewan Party campaign said that providing "a fulsome and accurate response" would require accessing government resources, which it is not able to do during the ongoing election campaign.

In response, NDP leader Carla Beck said the proposed change room policy would make kids who are already vulnerable even more so. "This is the most ugly kind of politics,” Beck said. “People in this province consistently are worried about health care. They're worried about being able to pay their bills. They're worried about education.”

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Two Former Sask. Party MLAs Endorse Beck

Carla Beck stood on the steps of the legislature yesterday flanked by supporters to announce the endorsement of two former Saskatchewan Party MLAs.

Beck was joined by Mark Docherty, who served as MLA for Regina Coronation Park from 2011-2022. Docherty served as Speaker between 2018-2020, before he was defeated in a race for the Speakership by Randy Weekes after the 2020 election. Docherty said, “The Sask. Party has lost their way. They don’t understand that you’re here to serve – and that it’s not their money, it’s the people’s money.”

The NDP leader was also joined by Glen Hart, the former MLA for Last Mountain-Touchwood from 1999-2020. During his tenure, he served in the Deputy Speaker role.

The NDP also released memos from the Saskatchewan Health Authority that showed no available medical radiation technologists in Moose Jaw for eight days over the summer. The report stated, “All patients requiring CT services will need to be sent to Regina General Hospital for imaging,” and, “Stroke and Trauma patients will to be bypassed from the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital to the Regina General Hospital.”

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The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce has launched "Fueling Momentum 2024," a policy platform for the 2024 Provincial Election. Based on extensive consultations and research, it outlines key priorities from the Saskatchewan business community to inform all political parties.

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A look at ad spending in the campaign’s third week

In debate week and in the final days before voting week begins, the province’s political parties were busy buying ad space on Facebook and Instagram to share their party’s message with voters.

The Saskatchewan Party spent $17,295 on Facebook and Instagram between October 8-14. Scott Moe’s page spent no money on ads.

The Sask. Party has spent most of this week’s budget boosting existing social posts and promoting surveys related to platform commitments.

The Sask. NDP spent $4,553 on Meta ads this week. Carla Beck’s personal account did not put money behind any post.

The NDP released a new thirty-second ad that reads, “This is Scott Moe and he thinks he’s doing a great job.” The ad continues to read that Saskatchewan is last in health care and education.

CUPE Saskatchewan spent $4,598 on Facebook and Instagram ads this week, and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour spent a combined $5,686 on ads.

As for the Saskatchewan United Party, they spent just $139 this past week.

The SKoop will continue to track ads and spending as we head into the final week of the camapign.

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Trudeau makes foreign interference allegations, Poilievre dares him to release the names

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Wednesday that Canadian intelligence agencies have information that multiple Conservative politicians are “engaged” in or at risk from foreign interference schemes.

In shocking testimony at the foreign interference commission Wednesday morning, Trudeau took aim at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for refusing top secret briefings on a national security threat that allegedly has penetrated his own party.

“Because I am prime minister and privy to all these informations, I have the names of a number of parliamentarians, former parliamentarians and/or candidates in the Conservative Party of Canada who are engaged or are at high risk of or for whom there is clear intelligence around foreign interference,” Trudeau told the commission’s lawyers. Trudeau added, “The decision by the leader of the Conservative Party to not get those classified briefings means that nobody in his party, not him, and nobody in a position of power knows the names of these individuals and can take appropriate action.”

Poilievre did not mince words firing back at the PM in a statement, “Furthermore, my chief of staff has received classified briefings from the government. At no time has the government told me or my chief of staff of any current or former Conservative parliamentarian or candidate knowingly participating in foreign interference,” Poilievre continued, “If Justin Trudeau has evidence to the contrary, he should share it with the public. Now that he has blurted it out in general terms at a commission of inquiry – he should release the facts. But he won’t – because he is making it up.”

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Constituency Profile Series: Sponsored by Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA)

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Each week leading up to the 2024 election, The SKoop Political Briefing will highlight a constituency that has nominated a candidate from at least both major parties. Today, we look at Weyburn-Bengough.

The incumbent: Michael Weger has been the Saskatchewan Party constituency president for the last eight years. He has practised law for the last fifteen years and has been the sole owner of his firm for eight. He and his wife are co-presidents of the South Saskatchewan Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Canada. He is also an on-call firefighter.

The challenger: Seth Lendrum is a field medic in the oilfield for Armour Safety and has completed courses toward becoming a paramedic. He coaches minor football in Weyburn. He was acclaimed as the NDP candidate.

The wild card: Rose McInnes is the Saskatchewan United Party candidate in Weyburn. She is a small business owner in the community. The SUP is looking to finish second and make inroads in this constituency.

The takeaway: This is a safe Saskatchewan Party seat. This riding was once home to Tommy Douglas but has not elected a New Democrat since 1995. The seat has been held by Dustin Duncan since 2006. In the 2020 election, Duncan won with 77% of the vote.

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More news and info

• 4 more Trudeau cabinet ministers won't seek re-election: sources (CBC News)

• Canadians more likely to prefer having the next federal election in 2025 and oppose forcing an election immediately (Bloomberg/Nanos)

• 🏠 7 in 10 Saskatchewan voters think housing should be a top priority for elected officials. That is why Saskatchewan’s Housing Leaders have launched Secure Homes, Strong Future­ – a housing policy blueprint for Saskatchewan ahead of the 2024 provincial election. Built on grassroots consultation and expert insight, this plan provides common sense ideas that will improve affordability, unlock development, lower construction costs and build more homes faster. Click here to learn more.*

• Group of Liberal MPs plan to verbally ask Trudeau to step down next week (CTV News)

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