Election ‘challenging’ says Sask. Party’s Moe, as NDP’s Beck addresses her party’s rural prospects

Saskatchewan’s 2024 provincial election campaign is close to the finish line and the leaders of the NDP and the Sask. Party are making their final appeals.

Monday is the last day of voting (polls are closed on Sunday) and Elections Saskatchewan says results deciding who will govern the province — should be out by midnight that day.  

The leaders of Saskatchewan’s two main parties were in Saskatoon on Saturday renewing their pitches to voters. 

Speaking to reporters after a noon-hour event, Sask. Party leader Scott Moe responded to questions about recent provincial elections outside of Saskatchewan.

That includes the New Brunswick election that brought an end to six years of Progressive Conservative rule.

The Liberals won after taking 31 seats there. In B.C. the race after an election earlier this month remains too close to call and counting resumed on the weekend with NDP maintaining a narrow lead.

“I would say incumbent governments have had it tough, and that’s likely the case we’re having — a challenging election, I would say here in Saskatchewan. That being said, we have 61 of the finest candidates,” Moe said Saturday. 

He also addressed some of the unexpected issues that have popped up on the campaign trail.

That includes a report that came out mid-campaign that former Sask. Party MLA Gary Grewal breached conflict of interest rules by owning motels that profited from government contracts.

There was also some confusion over damage to a Sask. Party campaign office that Moe initially said was caused by gunshots. Police later confirmed the damage was not caused by gunshots. 

Then there were defections from  one-time party loyalists, including Randy Weekes, former Sask. Party MLA and Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature.

Weekes made a series of allegations on his way out of the party and in recent days was among those putting his support behind the NDP and Carla Beck. 

Moe says despite the challenges, his team has waged “a very strong campaign.”

“There’s been various discussions in the media and questions asked of which we’ve always right to provide the clarity. And we feel it’s important for us as a party, for myself as a leader, to provide clarity to the people of Saskatchewan,” Moe said. 

He said the party is focused on forming a majority government and planning for a vibrant economy. 

Meanwhile, NDP leader Carla Beck was holding an event outside the Royal University Hospital to talk about health care.

Political experts have said the New Democrats need a breakthrough in rural constituencies to boost their chances of winning the election.

Speaking to reporters, Beck argued that that the issues her party is focusing on resonate in rural areas as much as they do in urban cities. 

“Our message is not just for urban Saskatchewan, it’s not just for a select few voters. These priorities — delivering relief on the cost of living, fixing our healthcare system, investing in our kids and their education, dealing with crime, mental health and addictions which are rising right across this province — these are issues no matter which community you’re in,” Beck said. 

Beck said the NDP sat down with the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses to discuss the challenges they face in the healthcare system. She says she has a plan to invest more in health care, hire more workers, and reduce wait times. 

“When we look at health care, rural Saskatchewan is facing some of the highest numbers of closures. Women giving birth on the side of the road, people going without care, lab service is closed, people being forced to get in their car and drive down sometimes, over two hours with symptoms of a heart attack,” Beck said. 

She said she’s not ruling any constituencies out in rural and urban Saskatchewan. 

“My whole family lives in rural Saskatchewan I’ve seen the impact on health care … this is a message for all people in the province, we can deliver that change,” Beck said. 

She said if elected her priority would be providing relief on the cost of living, fixing the healthcare system, investing in education and dealing with crime, mental health and addictions.