By Michael Joel-Hansen

NDP leader Ryan Meili speaks to party members in Prince Albert

Oct 5, 2018 | 12:06 PM

The E.A. Rawlinson Centre played host to a political gala Thursday night.

The Saskatchewan New Democrats Prince Albert Northcote Constituency Association held their 16th annual Northcote Gala fundraiser.

This year’s event featured party leader Ryan Meili as a guest speaker. Meili said the event provided the party with a good opportunity.

“It’s also just a great chance to gather people from Northcote, but also P.A., Carleton and all around the area and show support for Nicole [Rancourt],” he said.

The opposition leader believes his party has an opportunity when the next election is called to potentially pick up an additional seat in Prince Albert.

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“I think there’s a really good chance for us to win in P.A. Carleton,” he said.

Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe played host to Ontario premier Doug Ford at the legislature in Regina Wednesday. Meili said while it is good to see the leaders of different provinces getting together to speak about issues, he finds some of the policies which the Ontario premier is working to implement are problematic.

“We’ve seen Doug Ford go down the road of cutting workers benefits, including sick pay and looking to decrease the minimum wage, where here, those are exactly the sorts of things that we need to improve the situation of workers,” he said.

The issue of the national carbon tax also has come back into the headlines recently, as Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister announced his government would join Saskatchewan and Ontario in challenging the federal government’s authority to impose such a tax.

“When it comes to the carbon tax, clearly there are real issues with the way the federal government has managed this, and more and more provinces are expressing concern,” Meili said.

Meili explained he believes a tax on carbon can work, but the plan needs to work to reduce emissions while working economically for provinces.

Prince Albert Northcote MLA Nicole Rancourt attended Thursday night. At the event she announced her intention to seek re-election. Rancourt said the gala provides more than just the opportunity to raise money for the constituency association.

“It also gives us the opportunity to have our [party members] talk with the caucus members,” she said.

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.com

On Twitter: mjhskcdn