NDP leader Ryan Meili, along with candidates Nicole Rancourt and Troy Parenteau. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Meili supports local candidates, claps back at Moe

Oct 25, 2020 | 5:03 PM

A day before the Saskatchewan provincial election, NDP leader Ryan Meili made one last campaign stop to Prince Albert to support the NDP three candidates running in the area, Nicole Rancourt in Prince Albert-Northcote, Troy Parenteau in Prince Albert-Carlton, and Lyle Whitefish in the Saskatchewan Rivers constituency.

Meili made the case for all three, starting with Whitefish, who is a principal at the Mistahi Sipiy Elementary School in Big River, as is a member of the Big River First Nation.

“Lyle Whitefish is a principal, a leader in his community. We’ve known Lyle for a long time and he would do a great job representing Sask Rivers,” he said.

When discussing Parenteau, Meili talked about how well known he was in the community for being a teacher, among being an advocate for other community activities. Meili recalled being at the Prince Albert parade with Parenteau and how all the children came to say hi.

“I remember walking around during the Prince Albert parade and every kid we passed said ‘Mr. Parenteau! Mr. Parenteau!’ Everybody knows Troy,” Meili said.

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Rancourt is the one incumbent candidate as she’s running to secure her second term as MLA for Prince Albert-Northcote.

“I’ve been so lucky and privileged to work alongside her in the legislature and see how every day she comes to the legislature and wears Prince Albert on her sleeve,” Meili said. “And I know Troy and Lyle would do the same thing and represent the people, and that’s what we need in the legislature — MLA’s who are there because they care about the people they serve.”

Meili also talked about the NDP’s promises of building a new hospital for Prince Albert, as well as mental health emergency room in P.A. and the other urban areas in the province in Saskatoon, Regina, and Moose Jaw.

When Saskatchewan Party leader Scott Moe visited Prince Albert on Sunday morning, he said Meili’s plans were “pie-in-the-sky” ideas and weren’t actually included in the NDP’s costed platform.

“He should learn to read the whole thing,” Meili responded.

Meili said the SaskParty will make cuts in healthcare and education, which he said is “downright dangerous” during a pandemic. He offered an alternative with the NDP’s promise of investing in numerous areas.

“With the New Democrats, you will get smaller class sizes, safer long-term care, lower wait times, higher wages, and more jobs right here in Saskatchewan including jobs building a new hospital, and a new bridge that we need here in Prince Albert,” Meili said.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW