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Candidates square off at N.B. Sask Party leadership debate

Nov 17, 2017 | 11:00 AM

Saskatchewan Party leadership candidates faced off in a debate in North Battleford Thursday, addressing hot-button topics such as crime, infrastructure, social needs and the budget.

Each of the five candidates taking part in the debate – Ken Cheveldayoff (Saskatoon Willowgrove MLA), Alanna Koch (former deputy minister to the premier), Tina Beaudry-Mellor (MLA for Regina University), Scott Moe (Rosthern-Shellbrook MLA), and Gordon Wyant (MLA for Saskatoon Northwest) had a chance to give their views on these issues during the two-hour event.

Candidates gave opening and closing statements and responded to 10 questions selected randomly from a draw submitted by party members. Many of the questions focused on North Battleford area concerns.

On the issue of reducing crime, Moe said providing more police officers would help “families to feel safe” across the province. He said mental health is also a concern related to the issue. He pointed out improving access to services would help.  

Koch said proposed developing what she calls “wrap-around services to assist people,” so there would be fewer gaps in the system to help “drive down crime.” 

Cheveldayoff said by helping address some of the “root causes” of crime, such as mental health needs in the community, would be one way tackle the weighty problem.  

Wyant, former minister of justice, said the Caucus Committee on Crime Report included a number of recommendations to help deal with the problem, including increasing policing. He said the aim was to “create a more visible approach” to crime prevention in rural Saskatchewan. He believes police “visibility” helps reduce crime. He added increasing CSO duties was another way to help police focus on serious crime.

Beaudry-Mellor said increased policing isn’t the solution, because crime hasn’t gone down. She recommended dealing with addictions needs and engaging the elders of the Battlefords Tribal Council and surrounding First Nations to help at-risk youth who are drawn to gangs in these communities. Beaudry-Mellor also said the city’s economic development downtown plan included creating hubs for Indigenous businesses to thrive downtown.

“I think this is one of the ways we can address crime… is to create economic development opportunities.” She also pointed to a housing project to help the homeless. Beaudry-Mellor said “addictions issues are also “driving the crime rate in N.B.”

Candidates were also asked whether they would aim to balance the budget or continue to invest in infrastructure.

Moe said “we need to continue with investment” in infrastructure, and pointed to the success of SaskBuilds, to look for alternative ways to fund projects to respond to the province’s growth, and find “the best value for the dollar.” 

Koch proposed balancing the budget in four years rather than the three planned, while Beaudry-Mellor also recommended the budget be “pushed back by a year.” Ken Cheveldayoff who said he’s “a fiscal conservative” said it’s not an either/or issue, adding that it’s a good time to look for opportunities to invest in infrastructure. Gordon Wyant pointed out the success of partnerships to fund infrastructure projects with private support, and help “grow the economy.” 

The candidates also looked at balancing the budget while trying to meet social services needs, such as the Lighthouse which helps the homeless. Candidates also tackled reducing surgical wait times. Many of the candidates said moving to a single health-board would help reduce duplication and streamline the process as one way to improve the situation.  

Despite Thursday’s nasty winter storm, all the candidates turned out, and executive director Patrick Bundrock said the attendance of about 90 members was still good.

“I understand on Facebook Live we peaked at about 300, so it was a well attended debate for the circumstances of the weather,” he said.

While another candidate, Rob Clarke, who was announced Wednesday attended the event, Bundrock said he hasn’t received his filed nomination papers yet, so Clarke wasn’t eligible to take part in this debate. Candidates must submit their papers one week prior to the debate to participate. 

There was a moment of silence prior to the debate to remember Melfort MLA Kevin Phillips who died Monday.

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow