From left to right: P.A. Northcote candidate Alana Ross, P.A. Carlton candidate Kevin Kasum and Sask. Rivers candidate Eric Schmalz. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Doorknocking

On the campaign trail: Where are the P.A. Sask. Party candidates?

Oct 23, 2024 | 1:06 PM

We’ve been busy.

That was the response from Sask. Party Leader Scott Moe on Tuesday, when he held a news conference in Prince Albert and was asked by paNOW about a perceived lack of local candidate visibility.

In turn, the NDP and their local candidates have held a number of news conferences in the city, flooded media emails with statements, and even made themselves available after the handful of Sask. Party announcements led by leader Scott Moe.

A provincial candidates forum, organized by the Chamber of Commerce, was cancelled due to a lack of commitment from both parties.

Eric Schmalz, the Sask. Party candidate for Sask Rivers, stated they have simply not had a lot of time to do a lot of pressers or broad based media events.

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“What we’ve focused on primarily is being on peoples’ doorsteps and in their communities, understanding the issues on the ground,” he explained.

Sask. Rivers candidate Eric Schmalz looks as Scott Moe addresses the media. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Alana Ross, the party’s candidate in Prince Albert Northcote, is the most politically experienced of the three local candidates. She also expressed the importance of talking to people and listening to concerns.

“You don’t always get that by having news conferences,” she said.

Kevin Kasun is runnning in Prince Albert Carlton, the seat formerly held by Joe Hargrave, and acknowledged his own inexperience.

“I have to hit the doors and let people know who I am,” he said, adding that while the work was much more than he thought it would be when he first started, he has really enjoyed it.

Scott Moe stated the over 60 candidates that make up his team, have knocked on an average of 20,000 doors per day.

“We’ve never seen that kind of productivity out of our volunteer Saskatchewan Party teams across this province,” he said.

With respect to the campaign’s home stretch, Moe indicated the candidates would be re-visiting the doors they’ve been to previously and referred to this campaign as one the most grassroots ever. He added
governments and all parties need to be doing a better job listening to people.

“Maybe not listening to the latest media story, maybe not listening to the loudest advocacy group but being on the doorstep, being in the community, and listening to the parents and listening to the people you are vying to represent,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell