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Moe promises to double the Active Families Benefit if re-elected

Saskatchewan Party leader Scott Moe was in battleground Prince Albert yesterday to announce his latest campaign promise.

Moe pledged that if re-elected, his government would double the Active Families Benefit. “We all know how beneficial it is to get our kids involved in sports or artistic activities like music and dance lessons,” said Moe. “We also know the cost of those activities has gone up just like the cost of most other things, so the Saskatchewan Party wants to make if more affordable for parents to put their kids in those kinds of activities.”

The income threshold to qualify for the Active Families Benefit will also double, making more families eligible to receive the benefit. Currently, families must have an income of $60,000 or less to qualify. The income threshold will double so that families with income up to $120,000 will now qualify for the benefit.

Moe then visited the Saskatchewan Party campaign office in Warman with local candidate Terry Jenson.

This continues Moe’s first week of the campaign focused on affordability through tax relief.

The Saskatchewan Party is also putting money behind the promises announced this week in a new ad titled, “Making Life More Affordable.” You can watch the ad below.

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Learn more about the great work the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association and its members are doing at saskheavy.ca.

Beck criticizes state of healthcare in the province as CUPE launches ad and nurses rally

The NDP raised concerns on Thursday about the state of healthcare in Saskatchewan. NDP leader Carla Beck spoke with the media following a Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) rally at the Legislature.

The NDP said the emergency room at Saskatoon’s Royal University Hospital reached 350% capacity on Tuesday night, a situation it blames on the Saskatchewan Party and its leader, Scott Moe.

Nurses rallied at the provincial legislature, saying the health system is beset by issues including ER overcrowding, hallway beds and staffing shortages. Beck joined the nurses and told the crowd that as Premier, she would work with them to get Saskatchewan out of last place in healthcare. Beck previously announced that a NDP government would put $1.1 billion more into healthcare over its first four years in government.

Beck said, “It's about time Saskatchewan had a government that listens to healthcare workers. We will end the culture of fear, disrespect & division that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party pushed onto nurses and frontline workers, which caused many to leave the province altogether.”

SUN is not the only union attacking the government’s record. CUPE Saskatchewan released an ad to go along with a billboard campaign titled, “Scott Moe has broken healthcare.” You can watch the video ad below.

Sponsored by Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is promoting its “Fueling Momentum 2024” policy platform as a key resource for the upcoming provincial election. Developed through extensive consultations with the Saskatchewan business community, this platform outlines key priorities that will influence the province's future growth.

At a time when Saskatchewan is poised to seize global opportunities—ranging from food security to energy transition—the platform emphasizes the need for a competitive business environment that attracts investment and drives innovation. Its five strategic pillars, including tax competitiveness and energy transformation, are designed to ensure Saskatchewan's leadership on the global stage.

“Fueling Momentum 2024” is positioned as a vital tool in advocating for policies that will sustain and enhance Saskatchewan’s growth and prosperity.

Read the full report here.

Other parties release campaign platforms

The Saskatchewan United Party launched its campaign in Regina this week.

SUP leader Jon Hromek told the media, "Leadership is needed in Saskatchewan. Our party, the Saskatchewan United Party, was formed to offer a true conservative option to the problems that Saskatchewan faces today." Hromek finished second in the Lumsden-Morse by-election last summer, and is challenging the riding once again. In 2023, Hromek made news by donating $200,000 to the party he now leads.

SUP released its full campaign platform that includes cutting the PST in half to 3%, removing the fuel tax, lowering property taxes for seniors, and removing ‘ideology’ from schools. As of now, SUP only has 23 candidates nominated, although Hromek said twelve more are coming shortly.

The Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Party also released their campaign platform this week. Their promises include removing the PST on a number of items, transitioning government-owned buildings into greenhouses, and review potash royalties. The PC party has nominated 12 candidates.

The Green Party is the only other party that has nominated a full slate of 61 candidates. They have also released a full platform. The 62-page document promises a Guaranteed Livable Income, reclaims orphaned oil wells, cuts the small business tax in half, and establishes a local food security act.

The Buffalo Party has yet to release a platform but pledged to bring back the STC if elected.

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Bobby Cameron seeking fourth term as FSIN Chief

The three-term Chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is seeking a fourth consecutive term.

Bobby Cameron is looking to hold the position he was first elected to in 2015. Last week Aly Bear declared her intention to run for Chief with the endorsement of 15 Chiefs, Elders and councillors.

Cameron said, “Our heart and mind are in the right place to serve you under the FSIN, the strongest treaty Indian organization in Canada. As the current FSIN chief, I believe our inherent treaty rights are powerful. Our sacred pipe ceremony symbolizes them. They're so powerful that they trump federal and provincial laws. Our treaties are of international law with the British Crown. This is our focus. This is our priority. This will always be who we are and what we do as Treaty Indian people.”

Last year, opponents raised concerns over Cameron’s past, saying he should have been disqualified from the race after it was revealed that he had a criminal record. One Chief told CBC News that Cameron was “corrupt”, while another described feeling “more concerned than ever.”

Speaking to reporters, Cameron said, “Since 2011, when I first ran, this is the first time I've answered this question, so I'm glad you asked. I never dodged or ran; I thought things like this were petty because every credentials committee has allowed me to continue running. There's a clause: you are ineligible if you've been criminally charged five years before an election. This happened over 30 years ago.”

Advertisements are already running across the province, including in Saskatoon featuring Aly Bear.

The FSIN is the representative body of Saskatchewan's seventy-four First Nations, committed to honouring the spirit and intent of the provincial treaties made with the First Nations in the 1870s.

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

SUMA represents over 80% of Saskatchewan residents —cities, towns, villages, resort villages, and northern municipalities—that come together as one urban voice.

We’ve been here since 1905, advancing collective member interests with various government bodies, improving local governance, and fostering municipal growth. We are the urban hubs where you live, work, and play. We're where your children go to school, where you attend medical appointments at the clinic, and where you stop for coffee.

We are URBAN. To learn more visit www.suma.org.

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 Carrot River Valley. This primarily rural riding is located in the northeast part of the province and includes the municipalities of Nipawin, Tisdale, Hudson Bay, and Carrot River.

The incumbent (party): Terri Bromm has been a pharmacist for twenty-five years and has worked in several communities including Tisdale, Nipawin and Arborfield. She is the Business Development Officer for Community Futures Newsask in Tisdale.

The challenger: CJ Binkley lives in Hudson Bay. She is an education associate for the Northeast School Division in Porcupine Plain. 

The takeaway: This is a safe Sask. Party seat. This riding has not elected a New Democrat since 1995. Incumbent MLA Fred Bradshaw is not running again. He received 75% of the vote in the 2020 election.

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More news and info

• Trudeau says it 'bugged' him when Singh ended the governance agreement without calling first (CBC News)

• 🏠 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.*

• Pharmacare bill passes key test ahead of next week's final Senate vote (CBC News)

_{*Sponsored by Saskatchewan Housing Leaders (Saskatchewan REALTORs Association, Saskatchewan Landlord Association, Saskatoon and Region Home Builder’s Association, and Regina and Region Home Builder’s Association).}

2024 Election Candidate Tracker