North Battleford saw an appearance Monday from Premier Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party campaign.
It was a brief stop at the campaign office of Herb Cox on 100th Street. Cox, the provincial environment minister, is in a competitive re-election fight against Rob Feist of the NDP, Dexter Gopher of the Liberals and Josh Hunt of the Green Party.
The stop follows other leaders’ appearances with NDP leader Cam Broten having campaigned in North Battleford the week before and with Liberal leader Darrin Lamoureux at an event in Battleford shortly before the writ was dropped.
Wall didn’t have major new policy announcements to make at his North Battleford stop. The appearance was really geared towards rallying the troops and boosting morale for supporters and campaign workers in the final two-week stretch towards the April 4 provincial election.
Earlier on Monday, Wall was in Saskatoon at the grand opening event of Ability in Me or AIM, a program for kids and young adults with Down syndrome. In speaking to Battlefords supporters the premier touted the government’s two-year funding commitment of $720,000 for that program. Premier Wall credited the economy for making that happen.
“It was a good event because it’s a reminder that’s why we talk about the economy in the Saskatchewan Party a lot,” said Wall to reporters in North Battleford.
“Obviously, it provides jobs for Saskatchewan people, but it also provides the tax base upon which we can afford to make investments like AIM’s, to help people who are most vulnerable, or to invest in health care. You know, without a strong economy we can’t proceed with major capital projects like the Saskatchewan Hospital replacement that’s finally happening here in large measure because of Herb (Cox)’s good work.”
On local issues, Wall was asked by reporters about the funding situation at The Lighthouse Serving the Battlefords. The premier defended the government’s record.
“There’s this notion out there that there have been cuts, and over the last eight years we’ve significantly increased supports for people who are vulnerable, people who are facing some homelessness, and sought to partner with cities such as North Battleford and Saskatoon, who has the Lighthouse as well. And we’re going to continue to make those efforts.”
As for the Lighthouse in North Battleford, Wall acknowledged it was an issue Cox had raised prior to the election. He did not go into specifics on how the funding situation would be resolved, but seemed to indicate people shouldn’t be concerned.
“I don’t think people should worry about its loss,” Wall said. “We’re going to, we’ve made the effort and found ways to support projects like this in the past, not just here but across the province. If we’re re-elected, I think the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior and again, the supports in general province-wide in this area have increased under our government.”
The premier was also asked about the proposed privatization of liquor stores across the province including the store in Battleford -- something opponents have characterized as “closure.”
“It is unfortunate they would be making that claim, it is fundamentally not true,” Wall said.
“What we’re talking about is moving from 40 of the stores that are not really making money for government to move them to the private sector.”
Wall pledged employees would be able to buy those stores during that process and would be provided some advantages to employees who wanted to buy those stores.
“I think we’re going to see more choice when it’s done,” Wall said. He added “there will not be less money for government as a result of this. Government as the wholesaler is going to make sure of that, point number one. Point number two, government won’t have the overhead of all of the different stores that may or may not be as performing as well as others. And yet consumers will still have the choice, I think that will be reflected in price by the way, and as I mentioned employees of existing stores can be owners now.”
Overall, Wall voiced confidence about how the campaign was going. In speaking to reporters, he was also unfazed by the increased number of candidates from the smaller parties in this election.
The Liberals are running a full slate this time and the Progressive Conservatives are also fielding an increased slate of candidates. But Wall made it known his own interest was in getting his party’s vote out.
“What we can do is focus on our support, building on our support,” Wall said. “That’s what our campaigns have been doing and that’s what Herb has been doing.”
Wall said his party would be out door-knocking and phoning and building support, and then try to get that support out on election day.
“We’ll do that whether there are nine other parties or one other party,” said Wall. “We have a record that we’re proud of.”
