Sask. Liberals, Green Party campaigning for change

We hear a lot about both the Sask. Party and the NDP provincially, but what about the other parties in Saskatchewan?

Saskatchewan also has the Liberal Party, Green Party, Progressive Conservative Party and the Buffalo Party — formerly known as the WEXIT Party.

All four of these party leaders joined Gormley on Oct. 8 to chat about what their party would do if elected on Oct. 26.

On Wednesday, we are looking at both the Liberals and the Greens provincially in Saskatchewan, while we look at the remaining two parties on Thursday.

Saskatchewan Liberal Party

We’ll start by first looking at the Liberal Party, led by Saskatoon Westview candidate Robert Rudachyk.

Rudachyk said he’s been active in Liberal politics federally and provincially. He stepped into an interim leadership role following the departure of Naveed Anwar on Sept. 16.

The Saskatchewan Liberals have three candidates, including Rudachyk. The other two are located in Regina, with University of Regina professor Jeffery Waters running in Regina Northeast and retired union activist Bruno Sahut running in Regina Lakeview.

Rudachyk said his party wants to amend the SaskPower Act, if elected, to allow farmers, ranchers and First Nations communities to be able to farm electricity “as a cash crop” on their land.

“What we had with the net-metering program before was OK, but not a really great policy. Then, Scott Moe and the Sask. Party cut that to the point that it was a joke,” he claimed.

In terms of declining populations in Saskatchewan, the Liberals would like to see the Legislature reduce the number of seats. Rudachyk added the Liberals want to reinstate the film tax credit, make child care more affordable, remove the PST on all insurance products and ban corporate and union political donations.

“I find it shameful that any party would be able to be bought by special interest groups in this way because that is what we see,” he said.

In terms of predictions for Oct. 26, Rudachyk said he doesn’t think the party will add any candidates other than the existing trio. Following the election, the Liberals want to focus on rebuilding the party for 2024.

“I want to focus on policy … We have some very solid policies here that neither the Sask. Party or the NDP have even looked at,” he said.

“If you really want this province to move forward … then maybe people need to look at what we’re offering, for a change.”

Saskatchewan Green Party

Naomi Hunter is the Green Party’s new leader, following the departure of Shawn Setyo prior to the 2020 provincial election.

Hunter is originally from Turtleford and said she is a farmer, an activist and a community volunteer across the province. She is the Green candidate for Regina Elphinstone Centre.

She said she wants to see a livable world for her grandchildren and doesn’t think the NDP’s position has been strong enough in the past.

“I want to be a voice in the legislature, calling for 60 per cent (carbon footprint) reductions within four years, and 100 per cent renewable energy within a decade,” she explained.

The Saskatchewan Green Party has 60 candidates in the provincial election, including Hunter.

Hunter said her party is about social, participatory democracy.

“Unlike all the other political parties, the Greens don’t accept corporate or union donations. We are completely funded by small, individual donations … We’re incorruptible. We truly are the voice of grassroots democracy,” she claimed.

Hunter said she’d like a universal, basic income, and for Saskatchewan to be the first place in Canada to do it.

The Green Party revealed its platform on Tuesday. Its plan, titled “Fair and Caring Transition,” includes work with Indigenous rights, health, environment, economy, social services, education and good government.