September 19, 2024 | Advertise with us

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New Brunswick, British Columbia provincial election calls expected

The official fall election season in Canada will begin today as New Brunswick heads to a provincial election, followed by British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

NB Premier Blaine Higgs is expected to meet with the Lieutenant Governor today to officially start the election period on the maritime island. Central campaign themes are expected to include economic issues, health care, the Progressive Conservative government’s gender identity policy in schools, and Ottawa’s request that the province welcome more asylum seekers. Political operatives in this Saskatchewan will likely keep an eye on how the issues are handled in that campaign as similar issues will be mirrored here at home.

Like Scott Moe, Higgs has been the Premier since 2018. He is seeking a third term for his Progressive Conservative Party and faces a challenge from the provincial Liberals and their leader, Susan Holt.

In British Columbia, Premier David Eby is expected to drop the writ on Saturday with the vote being held on October 19. The incumbent NDP government faces a challenge from the surging Conservative Party led by John Rustad.

Saskatchewan’s election is all but officially underway, with the campaign period expected to begin in less than two weeks.

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Saskatchewan will not accept relocated asylum seekers

There are currently 235,000 asylum seekers in Canada and the federal government is looking at relocating many of them to other provinces, as Quebec and Ontario experience difficulty coping with the large number.

Ottawa wants provinces to accept a share of the asylum seekers. Saskatchewan’s share under the federal proposal would be 7,000 people. The asylum seekers are primarily from Mexico, India, and Nigeria.

Saskatchewan’s Minister for Immigration Jeremy Harrison told reporters that the government is encouraged by existing immigration policies. “What we have said all the way along is that regular and lawful immigration is something that we are open to and beyond open to.

“That's something that we've encouraged and I think has been a great benefit to the province. That's what we want to continue on that path."

Harrison expressed concern with the federal government’s plan, saying, “I'm not sure that the public are fully supportive of those who perhaps have claimed asylum on some spurious grounds.”

BC, Alberta, and New Brunswick have all spoken out against the deal, as well.

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On September 24, Hon. Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Trade and Export Development; Immigration and Career Training, and Hon. Jim Reiter, Minister of Energy & Resources, will offer the Saskatchewan Party’s perspectives on key issues. 

On September 26, NDP Leader Carla Beck will lead a discussion on her party’s vision for the province.

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Poilievre promises simple non-confidence vote next week; Bloc pledges to support Trudeau

The federal Conservative Party will be moving a motion of non-confidence in the Prime Minister and the Liberal government next week in hopes of forcing an election.

MPs will be forced to vote on whether or not they support the Liberal government. The Liberals, who hold a minority of the seats in parliament will need to work with at least one other party to stay in power. Last week NDP leader Jagmeet Singh ‘ripped up’ the Supply and Confidence agreement and said he does not have confidence in the Prime Minister any longer. It is unclear how the NDP will vote.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau now needs the support of the separatist Bloc Quebecois led by Yves-Francois Blanchet.

“The Bloc Québécois is in service of the Québécois. It’s not in service of the Conservatives,” Blanchet said this week. “I’m not a Conservative. I’m a Québécois. I’m a Bloquiste. I serve the interests of Quebec.” Blanchet added that he does not have confidence in a Trudeau government, but believes he can push the Liberal minority government on his party’s priorities, including a boost in pension payments to seniors. “I have confidence, reasonably, that if necessary and if the Liberals don’t deliver our demands, we will have a lot of time to make them fall,” he said. 

For now it appears a federal election will not happen in the near future, but crazier things have happened.

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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 Saskatoon Riversdale. This riding was home to two NDP Premiers in Roy Romanow and Lorne Calvert, and includes neighbourhoods like Montgomery, Holiday Park, and the Riversdale district.

The incumbent (party): Olugbenga Fakoyejo won a contested nomination. He works as a financial advisor and has a Bachelor’s degree in economics. Fakoyejo is looking to succeed incumbent MLA Marv Friesen, who stepped down as a candidate earlier this year.

The challenger: Kim Breckner is a lawyer specializing in corporate, employment, mining and renewable energy law. She is involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Nuit Blanche Saskatoon, and Bridge City Bicycle Coop. She is the first female President of the Saskatchewan Drag Racing Association.

The takeaway: After being competitive last election, this is now a likely NDP seat. The Saskatchewan Party won this riding by just 81 votes in 2020, the closest race in the province. With Friesen not running again, the NDP have Riversdale in their sights. Something else to watch will be Green Party leader Naomi Hunter also running in this riding.

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More news and info

• Alberta announces $8.6B plan to build new schools amid surging population growth (CBC Alberta)

• Loblaw stores in Saskatoon using bodycams for security (CBC Sask.)

• Residents frustrated with emergency shelter locations in Regina, Saskatoon (CTV News Regina)

2024 Election Candidate Tracker