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Kirsch is back in, in Batoche

Nov 8, 2011 | 6:11 AM

The progress line was green and the numbers were good straight out of the chute for the Saskatchewan Party incumbent in Batoche, Delbert Kirsch.

Within 40 minutes his win over NDP candidate, Janice Bernier and Green Party Candidate, Amber Jones, was called.

“This certainly is the result we hoped for,” said, an enthusiastic, Kirsch.

“For us, it was a campaign of visiting the communities and engaging in individual contact but, ultimately, it’s the eight years of case loads and the work we have done for individuals that has shown us what we need to do.”

The issues in Batoche Constituency are roads and health care, Kirsch said.

“This is a great day for Saskatchewan,” he said.

“Look for more of the same. We have brought this province to great heights and we are taking this province on the pathway to tomorrow.”

Janice Bernier, the Batoche NDP candidate has been campaigning for the last 20 months and is disappointed the issues she listened to during that time will not be addressed by an NDP government.

“Definitely, highways have been an issue. We firmly supported local communities in their efforts to have even adequate roads. We were there to help people when the Weldon Ferry closed, for example.

Health care was another huge issue that this government hasn’t addressed. Wakaw lost its hospital and that was a huge blow, so I am disappointed in that regard,” she said.

NDP supporters have also been active in the Batoche area on the issue of anti-nuclear waste dumping in Saskatchewan.

“When they came through our constituency, we were right there with them, supporting them.”

kcay@panow.com