Carla Beck has been the leader of the provincial NDP since June 2022. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

politics

Sask. NDP leader tours La Ronge, meets with local councils

Sep 19, 2023 | 5:00 PM

NDP Leader Carla Beck is in La Ronge until Wednesday touring the community and meeting with different groups.

Beck arrived in La Ronge on Monday night after spending most of the day in Cumberland House. She began Tuesday in the tri-communities with a stop at the Woodland Wellness Centre, as well as hosting a meeting with several Lac La Ronge Indian Band councillors at the band office.

There was also a stop earlier today at the Northern Saskatchewan Indigenous Teacher Education Program on Far Reserve, along with a visit to the Scattered Site Outreach Program in La Ronge. She also held a meeting with La Ronge councillors, and she plans on speaking with Air Ronge council Tuesday evening.

“For any of us who are elected in this province, I think for us to do our jobs well, you really have to be out there listening to people and not making decisions from Regina, but actually being in communities, meeting with leaders and, maybe most importantly, seeing the communities they serve and where some of the strengths and challenges are in those communities,” Beck said.

“I think that’s really important and that’s certainly something we’ve really centred around with my leadership.”

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Beck explained some of the concerns shared with her during her visit included the high cost of living and the need for housing. She noted people want to see action on the price of groceries and heating costs, adding there’s also a need for more local voices in decision-making around health and education.

“The need for a lot of skilled workers in a lot of different services areas, but also that one of the things that was put forth was the need for, in order to attract those workers [and] build up local workforce … things like child care and housing as part of that solution,” Beck said.

She mentioned she’s travelled to La Ronge several times as an MLA, but this was her first visit as the leader of the NDP. Beck said she hoped to come sooner but was busy with byelections held during the summer.

“It is always a warm welcome when we come up to the North and [I’m] just so appreciative of the willingness of local leaders, be it a band council, town council or people who provide services in the community. Their willingness to sit with us and answer questions and be part of the solutions,” Beck said.

“That’s something I see right across the province, but the hospitality in the North is something special and it’s just always a pleasure to be able to get up here.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com