September 9, 2024 | Advertise with us

Be campaign ready.

Presented by

Beck targets Moose Jaw with school promise; Premier responds

NDP leader Carla Beck was in Moose Jaw over the weekend, setting her sights on making inroads and promising to build a new school in the city.

Saskatchewan’s opposition NDP leader was in Moose Jaw, home to two constituencies Beck is eyeing to make a play on this fall.

At her announcement at St. Michael School, Beck said, “St. Mike’s is a school that was built in 1956. The Holy Trinity Catholic School Division has previously petitioned the Sask. Party for a new school for almost every year since 2020. Now their local MLA Tim McLeod has a history of ignoring concerns of Moose Jaw residents.”

Beck continued, calling out both local MLAs directly, “We have one Saskatchewan Party MLA here in Moose Jaw MIA, another one who is busy representing himself in court.” Beck is referencing Greg Lawrence who now sits as an independent MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow. He is not running for re-election.

Beck finished her remarks by saying, “The only way that this school is going to get built is to have the government replaced with a new government. I’m going to get this school built, and I’m going to get it built fast. It’s time to get Saskatchewan out of last place on education.”

Beck has promised to build a new school in Moose Jaw and White City, as well as ‘speed up construction’ of the new schools in Regina and Saskatoon. Last week Beck was focused on education, promising to invest $2 billion into the system and implement a healthy school food program.

Premier Scott Moe responded to Beck’s promise on Twitter. Moe said, “The NDP continues to promise new schools, desperately hoping voters will forget their record in government of closing 176 schools - or one school a month - for 16 years.”

Sponsored by the Saskatchewan Heavy Construction Association

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

Sask. Party MLAs make multiple funding announcements

Saskatchewan Party government MLAs made multiple funding announcements across the province late last week, ramping up announcements ahead of the fall election.

The province announced $17 million in local policing. As part of the funding, $11.9 million will go towards hiring roughly 100 new municipal police officers, $2.7 million is marked for 14 new Safer Communities And Neighbourhoods (SCAN) officers, and $2.5 million is slated for the Saskatchewan Police College over the next three years to expedite police training.

Saskatoon MLAs Bronwyn Eyre, Paul Merriman, and Marv Friesen were joined by Moose Jaw MLA Tim McLeod, Saskatoon City Councillor and Mayoral candidate Cynthia Block, and Saskatoon Chief of Police Cameron McBride.

Minister of Corrections and Policing Paul Merriman said, “The safety of our communities and neighbourhood remains a priority for the government of Saskatchewan. Rising incidence of social disorder and crime in our communities is impacting feelings of safety and security for businesses and residents."

Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said, "Municipal bylaws are sometimes regarded as the small stuff -- vicious dogs, graffiti, trespass. But it's the small stuff, the broken windows stuff, that leads to neighbourhood trouble and decline."

At other events, Minister of Advanced Education Colleen Young spoke at the University of Regina on over $800 million invested in the Graduate Retention Program since 2009; Minister of Social Services Gene Makowsky was in downtown Regina announcing a provincial funding commitment to the Regina Street Team; and there wa san announcement in North Battleford by Education Minister and MLA for the Battlefords Jeremy Cockrill of $30 million in highways investments for west central Saskatchewan.

Sponsored by CNIB

NDP promises healthy school food program

The Saskatchewan NDP is promising to bring in a healthy school food program in schools if elected. Carla Beck made the announcement last week, continuing her pre-election announcement tour.

According to her party’s news release, under this program, there will operating funding provided to school divisions, to schools, parent groups, or non-profits that organize to deliver food to students in public, separate, or francophone schools throughout the province. There would be an initial investment of $10 million, ramping up to $55.5 million annually by the end of the government term. The NDP says this program will be phased in, and they plan to get a deal done with the federal government for even more funding. 

Beck told the media, “We’ve all been there before, those of us with children, on those hectic mornings trying to throw together a healthy lunch while you get kids out the door. And we all know the kids learn best when they aren’t hungry.” 

The intention is to use food grown or raised in Saskatchewan, through partnerships with Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector. 

A similar policy was adopted by the Wab Kinew NDP government of Manitoba earlier this year.

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 platform here.

Federal Liberal campaign director resigns

With a federal election looming in the near future, the Liberal Party’s national campaign director will be resigning at the end of the month.

Jeremy Broadhurst is one year into the job, and said he cannot do it going forward, saying “Given the stakes involved, the prime minister, the Liberal Party of Canada and all its candidates deserve someone who can bring more energy and devotion to the job than I can at this stage of my life."

With two by-elections coming up next week the Liberals are likely to lose, 52 Liberal staff vocally protesting the government’s position on Israel and refusing to campaign, the resignation of senior cabinet officials, and the termination of the confidence and supply agreement with the NDP all add to a bad few weeks for the Liberal Party.

Sponsored by Insurance Brokers Association of Saskatchewan

More news and info

• Girl, 15, set on fire in assault at Saskatoon high school: police (CTV News)

• Canadian canola industry could take $1B hit in wake of Chinese trade actions, says new report (CBC News)

• Police chief overseeing beleaguered Saskatchewan force paid $430K after retirement (SaskToday)

• Prince Albert Police Service confirm city’s fifth homicide of 2024 (CKOM News)

2024 Election Candidate Tracker