Party Leaders in Saskatchewan Debate Economy, Health Care, Policing

Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe (L) and Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck look on before a televised leaders’ debate in Regina, on Oct. 16, 2024. The Canadian Press/Heywood Yu

Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe and NDP Leader Carla Beck discussed health care, the economy, and policing in a televised provincial election debate in Regina on Oct. 16.

In her opening statement Beck said she had “a plan to make life more affordable and to get us out of last place in education and health care.”

Moe, whose party has been governing since 2007, said his plan was to build on continued economic growth and job creation to enable the hiring of more teachers, doctors, nurses, and police officers.

Health Care

The first question asked leaders how their health plan was better than their opponent’s.

Beck said the system was broken and Moe’s party could not be trusted to fix it, adding, “I don’t have a magic wand, but we do have a plan” to recruit, retain, and train staff.

Moe cited his government’s increased spending on health care and said his party has “the most ambitious health human resource plan in the nation.” He said the province was educating more health workers, delivering more surgeries, and showing innovation by starting urgent care centres.

Beck pointed to long wait times and crowded emergency rooms. Moe said surgical wait times were still lower than they were before 2007, when the Sask. Party first formed government.

Affordability

The leaders were also asked what they would do in their first year of government to address the increased cost of gas, groceries, and rent.

Moe said his platform is “increasing benefits and lowering taxes.”

“Saskatchewan is the most affordable place in Canada to live, and we have the lowest inflation rate largely because we removed the carbon tax from the way that we heat our homes,” he added.

Moe has refused to collect the carbon tax on home heating fuel in defiance of the federal government. The move came after Ottawa gave an exemption on home heating oil, which is most widely used in the Atlantic provinces, but wouldn’t give a carve out to other forms of home heating.

The Saskatchewan NDP is also opposed to the carbon tax.

Beck said residents frequently complain of having to make tough choices due to budget constraints. She promised to cut the fuel tax “on day one” and remove the PST from groceries and children’s clothing. She also promised rent controls and said her plan offered twice the relief that Moe’s did.

Schools

On education, Beck said under Moe’s leadership, the province had 15,000 more students but only one extra teacher. She said her party would increase education spending by a total of $2 billion over the next four years to enable more hiring.

Moe said his government increased education funding by 9 percent in the past year, and had construction of 28 new schools in progress. He contrasted that with school closures during the previous NDP era.

Economic growth

On the economy, Moe said the province’s focus on forestry, mining, and potash operations are spreading wealth to all parts of the province, including to rural and indigenous populations. He also pointed to value-added processing at a new oriented strand board plant in Prince Albert. He added “economic reconciliation in action” happened through new online gambling via the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. He also pointed to 17,000 new full-time jobs in the past year.

Beck said 40,000 fewer people were employed outside of Regina and Saskatoon than when Moe became premier in 2018, and there were 1,000 fewer businesses there. She said her party would reverse the PST on construction labour and materials that the Sask. Party introduced in 2017. She also promised start-up loans of up to $40,000 for new small businesses.

When asked how they would address shrinking communities and fewer farms, Moe pointed to value-added agri-food operations and increased exports under Sask. Party governments, while Beck said she would increase services and health care in rural communities.

Moe said the NDP in Ottawa propped up higher taxes and more regulation under the Liberal government. Beck said she would always fight for the interests of the province regardless of who was in power.

Policing and Public Safety

On addictions and public safety, Moe said he would add 500 intensive recovery beds for addictions and 500 police officers, including RCMP, city police, and provincial marshals.

Beck said her party would hire 200 more officers. She said Moe’s plan to create provincial marshals has already cost $14 million but “we don’t see a single boot on the ground.”

The Saskatchewan election will be held on Oct. 28.