The 2020 Provincial Election Candidates Forum was held online this year by the Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce. (Screenshot) 

By Jeff D'Andrea

election

Candidates make their case in virtual Provincial Election Forum

Oct 16, 2020 | 8:46 AM

The 2020 Provincial Election Candidates Forum had a new look this year, being moved to an online format as candidates pitched themselves and their party from the comfort of their own homes. All Sask Party and NDP contenders took part. There was also a presence from some local Greens and a PCP candidate.

P.A. Northcote race

Things heated up in the Prince Albert Northcote race, as incumbent MLA Nicole Rancourt of the New Democratic Party attacked the Saskatchewan Party and discussed the importance of long-term care facilities, especially during times of COVID-19.

“We know that frontline workers are working incredibly hard under difficult circumstances, and understaffing by this government is putting them in impossible situations,” Rancourt said. “In 2011, the Sask Party scrapped minimum care standards in long-term care, staffing levels, care hours, and healthcare for seniors has been sliding ever since. We’ve pushed back but twice they’ve voted down our bill.”

Rancourt added an NDP government will “re-establish standards of care so any person living in long-term care can live in a safe and comfortable living environment” with a $100 million investment to hire, recruit and maintain staff to avoid short-staffing issues at long-term care facilities.

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Alana Ross of the Saskatchewan Party responded with her experience in health care over the past three decades.

“Seniors are very important to me, as well. Most of the 30 years I’ve worked in health have been working with seniors in various parts of the healthcare continuum. Seniors have made our country what it is today,” Ross responded.

Ross also added the Saskatchewan Party has shown that seniors are important by naming Melville-Saltcoats MLA Warren Kaeding as the province’s new Minister Responsible for Seniors in the fall of 2019.

Ross cited 15 new long-term care facilities were built in the province since 2007, and long term care spending has increased annually up to $760 million, with 700 frontline workers hired and 364 licenced practical nurses. The Sask Party is also committed to hiring 300 more LPN and front-line workers, she said.

P.A. Carlton

In Prince Albert Carlton, one hot topic that came up was how each party would approach improving the Victoria Hospital.

Incumbent MLA Joe Hargrave of the Saskatchewan Party highlighted the $300 million multi-story addition to the facility, including a new acute care tower, 40 per cent more beds, a helipad, more operating rooms, and more features.

“The 12 First Nations and the P.A. Grand Council had considerable involvement in the process. The facility will be culturally inviting and responsive to the needs of all First Nation memberships and communities,” said Hargrave. He noted since 2007, $1.6 billion had been spent in building new healthcare –more than double the NDP spent in their last 11 years.

Troy Parenteau, the P.A. Carlton challenger from the NDP, echoed party leader Ryan Meili’s promise to build a brand new hospital to serve the area.

“The Sask Party is proposing deep cuts to healthcare that are downright dangerous. Right now, we need to invest in healthcare, not make more cuts. That is why we are going to build a larger hospital in Prince Albert that will serve the region, that will include increased services to mental health, including a dedicated emergency mental health unit. And we are not going to send the bill to the residents of Prince Albert.”

Here are some of the summary remarks by candidates in both the Saskatchewan Rivers and Batoche constituencies.

Saskatchewan Rivers

Incumbent Nadine Wilson, Saskatchewan Party

“Our province is in a place to make a strong recovery. We have strong leadership and a plan for recovery. For a secure Saskatchewan for our families and our communities, we need to continue to work together.”

Lyle Whitefish, New Democratic Party

“I feel for every senior in Saskatchewan as I knock on doors and [hear] the struggles that they face. Once we make government, we’re going to be there for you. We’re going to be at the doorstep, ensuring that everybody’s looked after.”

Batoche

Lon Borgerson, New Democratic Party

“I think the voters of this province have a very clear choice this time around. You vote for a Sask Party government that will take us to austerity, which is a code word for cuts to services. You can see that happening right next door in Alberta and the pain that’s causing there. Or you can choose the NDP, the party that invests in people, to invest in our kids with more teachers and EA’s and special services, to invest in families with affordable childcare, and to invest in a healthy society with more doctors and nurses.”

Incumbent Delbert Kirsch, Saskatchewan Party

“Lon, I noticed you had one mistake there. You used the word that the Sask Party government would lead us to ‘austerity.’ The correct word you should have been using was ‘prosperity.’ That’s where Saskatchewan is headed under the Sask Party government. When you look at our record over the last 10 years, there’s a reason why this province is growing. There’s a reason why there’s jobs here and there’s a reason why people are moving here, because we’re giving them good government.”

Also part of the forum were two Green Party candidates, Sarah Kraynick and Marcia Neault and Shaun Harris with the Progressive Conservative Party.

The online livestream was moderated by Peter Lozinski, the editor of the Prince Albert Daily Herald.

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jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW