NDP leader Ryan Meili speaks in front of a decommissioned STC bus at a campaign stop in Prince Albert. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Provincial election

Meili touts promise to restore STC at Prince Albert campaign stop

Oct 20, 2020 | 2:35 PM

New Democrat leader Ryan Meili returned to Prince Albert Tuesday during a campaign stop that marked his fifth time in the city in the last month. He told reporters Prince Albert and area are “crucial” to the NDP’s aspirations of forming government and repeated promises to restart Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) service if elected. The service was shut down by the government in 2017.

Tuesday’s announcement was held in front of Prince Albert Carlton Sask. Party MLA Joe Hargrave’s office. Meili arrived on a decommissioned STC bus.

Hargrave’s challenger, NDP Prince Albert Carlton candidate Troy Parenteau, told reporters that symbolism was deliberate.

“Joe Hargrave was the minister who sold off STC and left families in this community left behind,” Parenteau said. “There’s no greater symbol of how Joe Hargrave and Scott Moe are letting Prince Albert families down.”

Prince Albert Carlton NDP candidate Troy Parenteau. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

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Prince Albert senior Louis Fauchoux said he felt like he’d “been cut off” by the closure of STC.

“My wife and I worry about how we’ll get to medical appointments out of town, my wife had cancer once, it may come back,” he said, adding they also used STC to visit their daughter in Lloydminster.

Meili said he’d heard similar stories across the province. He sees the closure of STC as emblematic of a larger pattern that the NDP’s been attempting to message to voters throughout the campaign.

“The STC sell-off is just one example of a Sask. Party that makes big election promises and then turns around and does more cuts and more sell offs,” he said.

Scott Moe has denied allegations the Sask. Party will cut services and sell off crowns if re-elected

Meili arrived in Prince Albert on a decomissioned STC bus. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

The NDP has budgeted $41.2 million over four years to operate the restored transit service.

Meili did not provide details on which routes would reopen first or what kinds of vehicles – for example buses or vans – the new service would use.

“Our plan is to immediately upon getting elected, get to work consulting with the communities knowing exactly which places to start with and how to redesign the service to meet the needs of today’s rider, today’s shippers,” he said.

Battleground P.A.

Meili’s Tuesday campaign stop marked his fifth time in Prince Albert in the last month.

“We feel really good about our chances in P.A.,” he said. “We’re been focused on P.A. now for a while.We were here for our convention a few months ago, we’re continuing to put in the effort to make sure that Prince Albert understands that unlike Joe Hargrave, unlike Scott Moe, we won’t let them down.”

The provincial election is Monday. Advance polls are now open.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom