By Angela Brown

Battlefords NDP association honours long-serving members

Apr 10, 2017 | 11:41 AM

Battlefords New Democratic Party Riding Association honoured several of its longest serving members in a celebration Sunday, with some members’ involvement dating back 40 to 50 years.

North Battleford residents Lorraine Voegeli, June Newsham, Richard Scotton, Lorna Gaudet, and John Welykochy all received long-service certificates at the gathering at Pioneer Hall in North Battleford.

North Battleford councillor and local NDP member Len Taylor, also a former MLA and MP, said many of the members recognized have been involved in the New Democratic Party and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), that preceded it.

“The party and the community would not be as strong as it is today if it wasn’t for people like this,” Taylor said. “We have to stand up every once in a while and say ‘thank you’ to those who have volunteered so much time.

“They have all been working their lives. They have all been raising families, and yet they still found time to give back to their community, their province, and to people who feel the same way they do — that the public deserves the best democratic government that it can, and that’s a government that cares for the people of the province.”

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During Sunday’s event, visiting Prince Albert Northcote MLA Nicole Rancourt discussed her concerns with the recently released provincial budget impacting residents on many levels and contributing to job losses.

Battlefords constituency NDP former candidate Robert Feist said people are tremendously frustrated with the direction the province is going and no longer believe the Saskatchewan Party “is in the business of politics for them.”

“I think a lot of people are gravitating towards what our vision is, and that vision is a stronger better community,” he said.

North Battleford resident Rylee Schumacher, co-president of the University of Saskatchewan New Democrats, said she is seeing many more inquiries about the party from students discontented with the provincial budget and the current government under the Saskatchewan Party.

“People were walking up to us saying: ‘That budget was awful. I am mad about it. What can I do to fix this?” she said.

The university student added she was surprised to notice at a recent NDP event on campus about 40 young people attended, a big increase from the usual 10 or so individuals who participate.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 3:06 p.m., April 10 for several corrections.