November 13, 2024 | Advertise with us

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Saskatchewan’s largest city to elect a new Mayor

Saskatchewan voters are once again headed to the polls, this time to elect municipal leaders.

In the province’s largest population centre, Saskatoon will elect a new Mayor for the first time since 2016. Incumbent Charlie Clark is not seeking re-election, nor is half of City Council. In the Mayor’s race, it appears to be between two candidates.

Current councillor and former broadcaster Cynthia Block is looking to become the city’s first female mayor. Block is running with the slogan ‘All of us, Together.’ Block is promising a homelessness task force, creating a walkable city, revitalizing downtown, and focusing on reconciliation. Her plan can be viewed here.

Former MLA, cabinet minister, and city councillor Gordon Wyant is looking to lead the city with a plan for ‘Safe Streets and Smart Spending.’ Wyant has policy proposals including an 8-point fiscal accountability plan, free parking on Saturday, and adding a police precinct on the west side. His plan can be viewed here.

Wyant and Block announced their candidacies on the same day earlier this year.

Former Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison has run for Mayor in every election since 2003 and is hoping the eighth time is the charm. Atchison is running on cutting spending and against zoning changes due to the Housing Accelerator Fund. Cary Tarasoff is also on the ballot again, looking to improve on his 4.5% result in 2020.

Information on voting locations and candidates can be found here.

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Nearly a dozen contenders for Mayor of Regina

The Queen City has eleven contenders for the Mayor’s chair and a contested race in every Ward.

With so many candidates, name recognition is important. One name that people know is incumbent Mayor Sandra Masters, who is looking for a second term as Mayor. She has pledged this would be her last term and wants to focus on infrastructure and improve community safety. Her plan can be viewed here.

Masters faces ten challengers including Shawn Sparvier, Bevann Fox, Bob Pearce, Kevin Kardash, Melina Bushenlonga, Nathaniel Hewton, and Rod Williams. Contenders with more name recognition include Bill Pratt, Chad Bachynski, and councillor Lori Bresciani.

The SKoop will have the full results of the elections tomorrow morning.

Information on voting locations and candidates can be found here.

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Federal government sends port strike to binding arbitration

The ongoing labour disputes in British Columbia and Montreal are headed to binding arbitration by request of the federal minister.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Minister of Labour Steve MacKinnon said he doesn't take lightly the decision to intervene in the collective bargaining process, but the negotiations were all at an impasse without an immediate way forward. That made the duration of the stoppage unclear and created real economic risk, he said.

MacKinnon said, "Negotiated agreements are the best way forward, but we not must allow other Canadians to suffer when certain parties do not fulfil their responsibility to reach an agreement.” He continued by saying, "It is my duty and responsibility to act in the interest of businesses, workers, farmers, families and all Canadians."

The job action came after port workers in British Columbia were locked out last week amid a labour dispute involving more than 700 longshore supervisors, resulting in a paralysis of container cargo traffic at terminals on the West Coast. The Maritime Employers Association locked out 1,200 longshore workers at the Port of Montreal on Sunday night after workers voted to reject what employers called a final contract offer.

Last week, Saskatchewan officials released a statement calling on the federal government to act, saying, “We are thankful the federal government did the right thing when many of these same economic powerhouse industries were threatened with a rail disruption, and we’d ask them to do the same today.” Further delays in the port authority could have an economic impact on goods.

In other labour news, Canada Post has given notice of a strike ahead of the holiday season.

More news and info

• A quarter of Canadians say none of the potential Liberal leader candidates appeal to them; Carney tops list after none of the above (Nanos)

• Disinformation and Polarization in The Age of AI— Are Democracies at a Tipping Point? (Canadian Press)

• Trump’s Cabinet: Here Are His Picks And Finalists For White House Roles—Kristi Noem, Marco Rubio And More (Forbes)