Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party, Ryan Meili, kicked off his 2020 provincial campaign in his hometown of Moose Jaw Tuesday, speaking in front of the campaign office of Moose Jaw Wakamow candidate Melissa Patterson. All in preparation for the October 26 election.

"A lot of people feel like Scott Moe has taken them for granted, he just assumes that that support is there." said Meili, "I think that's the most dangerous thing a politician can do is assume that they've got that support without having to work for it. Things they've done like killing off the STC, failing to step up and support farmers, there are lots of things that have made life harder in rural Saskatchewan."

He spoke on the SaskPower Plant that's set to be built in the industrial park.

"One of the things that is really on my mind is the plan to build a powerplant here in Moose Jaw, great, let's do it. But we've seen so many of these projects go to companies from elsewhere. In Swift Current, it went to a company in Missouri. Sometimes it's Alberta, Texas, wherever. I want to see those jobs for that project, go to Saskatchewan workers, Moose Jaw workers."

Melissa Patterson will be running for the NDP in the Moose Jaw Wakamow Riding. She spoke about what she thinks will give her the edge over Sask Party candidate Greg Lawrence.

Meili took some time from his conference to speak to his parents, Wally and Lea

"Engagement, absolutely. It's all about getting out there, getting my face known, talking to people and letting them know that I'm here, I want to listen to you, I want to work for you, and I want your support to do that. For a long time, we haven't had that big representation in Moose Jaw Wakamow. People are ready to see some real change."

She went on to talk about how she believes Moose Jaw has been underserved in recent years.

"We've seen cuts like we don't have a SaskPower office anymore, we don't have a SaskTel store anymore, we don't have a SaskEnergy office anymore. These are things that had provided really good jobs for people, and we don't have them anymore. Schools are overcrowded, mental health and addiction issues around the city are rampant. These are just some of the things that I'm hearing all of the time on the doorsteps."

Patterson is running against the SaskParty's Greg Lawrence.

Kyle Lichtenwald is the NDP candidate for Moose Jaw North. He's been going door to door for a few weeks now and talked about one of the major concerns he's heard about.

"Particularly around Saskatchewan Polytechnic, there's a lot of empty rentals. There aren't people here going to the school, and I've talked to people in the community who have been laid off from their positions at Sask Polytech. If we lose those jobs, everybody is going to end up suffering and it's going to have a spiral effect."

"We want to make sure that those jobs are revitalized here in the community, that we get new jobs, and we keep the jobs that we have, particularly at Sask Polytech and at the new power station that's going to be built here. We want local people working at these jobs."

You can click here to view a full breakdown of all candidates running in Moose Jaw, as well as the surrounding area.