Sask Party leader Scott Moe on the campaign trail. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW)

By battlefordsNOW/CJME News

on the campaign trail

Scott Moe promises change room policy for schools; Former Sask Party members endorce Beck and NDP

Oct 17, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The Saskatchewan Party is wading into the realm of gender and schools, making promises about changing rooms this election.

On Thursday, Scott Moe said the first order of his business if re-elected to government would be to make sure students, who are biologically male, would be required not to use the girl’s change room.

“If you are a biological male you’re not going to be in a change room, changing alongside biological females,” said Moe.

He said it would apply the other way around as well.

Moe said it would be an order sent by the education minister to school divisions.

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“I would hope that the school divisions maybe would act and we wouldn’t be required to do it,” said Moe.

When asked about The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms when it comes to things like gender identity and expression, Moe said this would be an odd interpretation of the Charter.

“What about the rights of all of the other girls that are changing in that very change room, they have rights as well,” he explained.

In response, Sask. NDP leader Carla Beck said such rules would make already vulnerable kids more vulnerable.

This comes about a year after the then-Sask.Party government recalled the legislature two weeks early to pass legislation, commonly referred to now as the ‘pronoun policy’. The policy requires students under 16 to have their parent’s or guardian’s permission to change their name or pronouns in school.

Meanwhile, Sask NDP leader Carla Beck is hoping some political reinforcements from former members of the Sask Party will help fuel change in the province.

She held a press conference in Regina with former Sask Party Speaker of the House and MLA for Regina Coronation Park Mark Docherty, Ian Hanna who was a speechwriter and political advisor to former Sask Party premier Brad Wall, and Glen Hart, a long time Sask Party MLA who served Last Mountain Touchwood for 21 years.

“Some have asked me why I’ve changed allegiances,” said Hanna. “To them I say: I didn’t leave the Saskatchewan Party, the Saskatchewan Party left me. I watched for years as the Saskatchewan Party became more dogmatic, more insular and less interested in serving the people of this province.

“The Sask. Party has lost their way. They don’t understand that you’re here to serve — and that it’s not their money, it’s the people’s money. Carla Beck is my choice for this election,” said Docherty.

Earlier in the day, the Sask NDP released leaked memos that they say showed people in Moose Jaw suffering from a stroke or other form of medical trauma were denied healthcare 8 days between July and August because there were no available medical radiation technologists.

Other promises

Outside of his home in North Battleford Thusday morning, Sask NDP candidate Tom Kroczynski reaffirmed the party’s promise of removing PST for specific grocery items and children’s clothing by December and cutting the gas tax by 15 per cent if elected on Oct. 28.

“You won’t have to wait for savings to maybe trickle out to your family at tax time two years from now; like with Scott Moe’s plan, this is money you’ll keep in your pockets for Christmas,” said Kroczynski.

“It’s time to make life more affordable. It’s time for change.”

Sask NDP candidate for The Battlefords Tom Kroczynski outlined Carla Beck’s plan to save families money on gas and groceries if elected. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

When asked if the changes would lead to an increase in other taxes, Kroczynski said the Sask NDP promises no implementation of new taxes for four years, including no increases to the PST, corporate taxes, personal taxes, or small business taxes.

“Our idea is to grow this economy, to make this a stronger economy, and that is where we will find the money we need to pay for the things we want to do that will help everybody in this province,” Kroczynski said.

He pointed out that this step could not only help families lessen the tax burden but also benefit senior citizens on fixed incomes.

In its platform, the Sask Party committed to reducing income tax by raising the personal income tax exemption, the spousal exemption, the child exemption and the senior’s supplement by $500 each year for the next four years. A re-elected Saskatchewan Party government would also put more money back in the pockets of low to moderate income individuals and families by increasing the Saskatchewan Low Income Tax Credit 20 per cent over the next four years.

Also on Thursday, the Sask Party said it will increase financial support for recreational facilities in Saskatchewan communities by doubling the Community Rink Affordability Grant to $5,000 per ice surface. Moe also pledged to create a new School Playground Equipment Fund of $3.75 million annually to help fund 50 per cent of the cost of new school playground equipment to a maximum grand per playground project of $50,000. The grant is expected to fund 75 projects per year.

-with files from CJME and battlefordsNOW

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com