The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party held ‘A Day of Action’ at the Moose Jaw Union Centre on Saturday to campaign early for the upcoming election, by going door to door around parts of the city.  

Leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, Ryan Meili, says although an election was just past, there will be another one on the horizon. 

“It was a challenging time during COVID-19 to be trying to sell change, and at that time things were going pretty well when it came to COVID-19 in Saskatchewan,” said Meili.  

“In the two months leading up to the election one person died of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan, since then hundreds have died, Scott Moe and the Sask Party did not do the work to protect people.” 

Meili also said the day was about asking questions. 

“We are a long way out from the election and we are going to ask what people are dealing with, folks are struggling. What you are really going to see the Sask NDP focused on is the future,” says Meili. 

Locally, Meili would like to see some changes.  

“We’ve seen very little public jobs leaving the city, we’ve seen cuts to education. Here in Moose Jaw, they have had to cut staff, including cleaning staff during a pandemic in our schools.” 

Producers are facing difficult challenges with drought and dry conditions. Meili recently called on the Sask Party government to develop an aid program for farmers and ranchers who are struggling.  

Meili says he has recently visited local farms. 

“It’s a big deal, I haven’t seen a drought like this since the 1980s.” 

He says the government needs to make sure producers ger financial support so they can continue to make the key contribution that agriculture is to the province. 

“One of the farmers was describing the wind and heat, and said it was like his crops were under a hairdryer,” said Meili. 

Meili also talked about how the province has a lot of key industries with high emissions and that we need to do the work to bring those emissions down.  

“Climate change is real it's no longer something we worry about in the future,” said Meili.  

He says we should be leading the nation in renewable energy, instead of being last.  

“That is right at the feet of Scott Moe, he’s done everything he can to resist the moves to solar, wind and geothermal. That’s what needs to change,” said Meili. 

Meili says it is time for a big change.