By Stephanie Froese

Northern Saskatchewan, a vast and varied riding

Apr 23, 2011 | 2:51 PM

The electoral district of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River has a population one-third the size of Saskatoon, but takes up an area of more than half the province. The people and the geography of this most northerly Saskatchewan riding makes it very unique.

NDP, Liberal and Conservative MP's have all represented the riding in the past.

The majority of the population in the riding is Aboriginal.

Ken Bear is from White Fish First Nation. He said he is worried about a lack of money in the economy for some of the smaller northern communities. He used the shuttered Big River mill as an example of missed employment opportunity.

“Why don’t the government help us with that, like get it going. What’s the big hold up? We pay taxes, so why don’t they help? Isn’t that good enough,” Bear said.

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For Delores Whitefish, who lives on the Big River reserve, she said it’s difficult for people when they need to access to healthcare, even with something simple like needing to see a doctor.

“Some people have to wait on the reserve to get taxis, to make an appointment for them to pick them up. It’s better that they have more doctors in Big River here, more nurses too,” Whitefish said.

Cecilia Germain loves the community feel in the Debden area where she said a lot of young families live.

Her children are grown up, but she said families today could use some more help from the government in terms of incentives and tax breaks.

More federal effort into healthcare is something that Larry Freeman would like as well. Freeman owns a second hand/pawn shop in Canwood and has lived in the area all his life. He said the biggest thing on his voter’s wish list would be to scrap the long gun registry once and for all.

It’s more funding for regional colleges that Ron Suderman is looking for. He is a student at Northwest Regional Collage in Big River.

“There should be more funds available for the instructors, and especially, I think they’re going on a really tight budget,” Suderman said.

There are four candidates vying for the votes of constituents in this riding. The NDP candidate is Lawrence Joseph, the Liberal candidate is Gabe Lafond, for the Green Party its George Morin and representing the Conservative party is incumbent Rob Clarke.

sfroese@panow.com