The election is yet to be called, but the New Democrats are gearing up for the provincial election in the Moose Jaw Wakamow Constituency.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Melissa Patterson

On Saturday afternoon, NDP members gathered at the Timothy Eaton Gardens for a nomination convention with two candidates on the ballot. A total of 89 ballots were cast, voting in Melissa Patterson as the representative for Moose Jaw Wakamow.

Born and raised in Moose Jaw, Patterson has worked at Casino Moose Jaw for sixteen years and is a proud and active member of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 455.

She is the chief shop steward with Casino Moose Jaw and serves as the Treasurer of her union local, as well as an alternate on the executive for the Saskatchewan Joint Board for the RWDSU. 

Patterson will be going head to head with SaskParty incumbent, Greg Lawrence in the upcoming provincial election and she explained what advantage she feels she has.

"I have youth, I have a big personality and I think that's going to draw people in and I think that's going to engage them. I also have relatability. I can relate to my eighteen-year-old daughter, to my 50-year-old father, and to my 80-year-old grandmother, and I can bring all of the issues and the concerns that they have together and I can talk about all of them."

While rumours have been circulating that the writ could be dropped earlier than the fall, Patterson says she'll take all the extra campaign time she can get.

"I'm ready for change. I think a lot of people are, on a lot of issues whether it's issues that affect seniors or young people. There's too much negative in this province right now. Too many people hungry, too many people poor and too many people sick and it's time for change and I want to help that change happen," Patterson added.

Current City Councilor, Crystal Froese was the other name on the ballot and Patterson went on to say she hopes the two of them can continue to connect in the future as her campaign ramps up.

Patterson is the thirteenth candidate nominated for the Saskatchewan NDP for the 2020 provincial election.

NDP leader, Ryan Meili was in attendance for the vote on Saturday and feels good about the parties' chance of winning in this riding.

"I have yet to hear someone say 'wow, Greg (Lawrence) has been doing a lot for us in Moose Jaw' We haven't seen Moose Jaw get the attention it should from this government. Both of these back-bench-er MLAs that are here have witnessed cuts instead of investment."

Moose Jaw Wakamow has been a stronghold for the party in the past with elected MLAs such as Lorne Calvert and Deb Higgins, Meili feels they're gaining some momentum.

"Here we had a packed room at Timothy Eaton's today. There is a real core support here in Moose Jaw and I think we're at a time where people gave the Sask party a chance and the benefit of the doubt, but that's gone. This is a government that's tired and out of ideas. Its letting people down with health care and education. People are looking for a government that'll put people first instead."

Meili added that a candidate hasn't been announced yet, but details should be released in the near future.

"We've got a few people looking at that nomination, and we'll see who puts their name forward and we'll make that decision very soon. That date has not yet been set but there is a lot of interest and again, people haven't seen a ton of great support from Warren Michelson, and I think people will not just be looking for a change in MLA but in a change of what party they represent."

The SaskParty candidate for Moose Jaw North is local lawyer, Tim McLeod as current MLA, Warren Michelson has decided to take a step back after this term.