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NDP ‘step up to the plate’ with new ad after launching campaign last week

Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck took a big swing and introduced herself to the province in a major way over the weekend. The NDP aired an ad on TSN to introduce their leader and set the stakes for the upcoming provincial election.

The thirty-second spot aired twice during the first half of the Labour Day Classic on TSN, and was posted on digital shortly after the game, which Beck attended.

In the ad, Beck says, “Baseball taught me practise in important. You know what else matters? Results. Right now Saskatchewan is in last place in education and in healthcare.” Taking swings and hitting baseballs, Beck continues, “When a batter loses their edge, they need to step away from the plate. Same with politicians. Saskatchewan deserves better. I’m Carla Beck, your Saskatchewan NDP Official Opposition leader.”

The ad was noticeably focused on introducing Beck and did not include the NDP logo, a clear break as Beck continues to position her party as a moderate alternative compared to iterations of the party in the past.

This is the first big ad from the New Democrats in several months, who spent no money on Meta digital ads in the entire month of August.

NDP launch campaign with policy announcements

The baseball ad followed Beck and the NDP launching their election campaign last week, when they made multiple announcements at various press conferences across the province.

On Thursday, Beck signed a pledge to not raise taxes. She also promised if elected, she would suspend the fuel tax, and freeze the small business tax rate set to go up next summer. At a press conference with Evraz workers she reiterated her “Hire Saskatchewan” plan to give Saskatchewan companies priority in public contracts. She also said an NDP government would not review potash royalties.

On Friday, Beck announced her plan to address crime. She promised she would scrap the Marshals Service and redirect that funding to hire local police officers. She also promised that an NDP government would invest in mental health and addiction support, create a task force to go after organized crime and drug trafficking and bring in a tax rebate for home security upgrades.

The official election campaign will not start for another few weeks, but unofficially, the campaign has begun and will continue to ramp up over the coming weeks.

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Moe makes rural tour stops

Saskatchewan Party leader and Premier Scott Moe is also making the rounds, campaigning in rural Saskatchewan over the past number of weeks.

Moe was in the southeast part of the province last week meeting with people in Redvers, Alameda and other communities. The ridings of Cannington, Weyburn-Bengough, and Estevan-Big Muddy are all safe Saskatchewan Party seats.

Moe Moe stopped at Redvers Ag Supply’s new Kybota dealership, the opening of the South East butcher Shop in Alameda, and E. Bourassa & Son’s 100 year anniversary.

On Monday, Moe acknowledged his summer communities tour, posting on his social channels to thank all those he met and visited with.

It was also announced last week that Moe will be addressing the Saskatoon Chapter of the Saskatchewan Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (SYPE) tonight in Saskatoon, which may indicate the Premier and his party are starting to shift focus towards battleground Saskatoon. The Premier has made one campaign stop in Saskatoon this summer at the MLA BBQ.

With the NDP starting their campaign last week, the Saskatchewan Party can be expected to release announcements and ads soon.

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New candidate seeking Mayor’s chair in Regina

A new candidate has emerged in the race for the Mayor’s chair in Regina.

Shawn Sparvier is running on a message of health and connecting with residents. “I’m just an energetic, outgoing person,” he said in an interview Thursday with the Leader-Post. “I see a lot of things in the city that I think need to be done in order to ground people.”

A pillar of his campaign will be integrating Indigenous culture with the city. He says he would see a traditional sweat lodge built within city limits by the end of next year. He also promised to ‘open the books’ and lower recreational facility costs while fully funding police and fire.

Sparvier pledged not to raise taxes for two years and to axe the education property tax for seniors who own homes in Regina. That tax is a provincial levy which municipalities don’t set, only collecting it on behalf of the Saskatchewan government.

There are now four candidates in the race. Incumbent Mayor Sandra Masters, political freshman Brandon Abtosway, Shawn Sparvier, and local businessman Kevin Kardash will all be on the ballot this fall. The paperwork deadline is still weeks away so there is still time for a new contender to emerge.

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More news and info

• Are provinces with upcoming elections ready to deal with foreign meddling? (CBC News)

• Moe responds to investigation into Cockrill, Grewal (SaskToday)

• Saskatchewan forecasts deficit of $354M in first quarter report, up from budget (CTV News Regina)

• MLA Greg Lawrence to represent himself without a lawyer at criminal trial (Regina Leader-Post)

• Trudeau, steel plant worker have tense exchange during Sault Ste. Marie visit (CTV News)

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2024 Election Candidate Tracker