The Saskatchewan NDP is looking at this weekend鈥檚 convention as a means to kick off the 2020 election campaign, delegates heard on November 1 in Prince Albert.
Dozens of delegates, observers and NDP supporters were at Plaza 88 to set out the party鈥檚 direction heading into next October鈥檚 provincial election. The work began Friday afternoon as delegates listened to guest speakers and began platform consultations before holding a fundraiser for area constituencies. It continued with workshops, a leader鈥檚 address and policy resolutions before wrapping up November 3 with a report from the provincial secretary and the election of the party鈥檚 officers.
Saskatchewan NDP president Linda Osachoff of Canora kicked off the convention with a speech seemingly aimed at galvanizing the NDP supporters.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 help but feel inspired by the bright orange sparks 小蓝视频 lit in every community we go to,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 continue to be inspired by the energy for change that鈥檚 growing everywhere.鈥�
Osachoff said that an election or two ago, the party would not have seen some of the supporters it does now, those who were on the fence or who voted for the Saskatchewan Party.
鈥淥pportunities are presenting themselves, for us to fan this growing flame until we turn our province orange again,鈥� she said to cheers.
She then turned her attention to Premier Scott Moe, accusing him of embracing divisive election rhetoric and of blaming the federal government for Saskatchewan鈥檚 problems instead of looking at what鈥檚 going on inside of the province.
鈥淲e can seize this opportunity that provides residents (and) communities with a vision, a thoughtful, researched plan, not just for today but for the future,鈥� she said.
"We have a leader who makes space for all voices at the table. Who invites us to work hard away from this nasty, resistant and unhealthy preoccupation with the status quo and works together for a healthy, sustainable and progressive society that puts people first.鈥�
She concluded her remarks by characterizing the upcoming provincial election as 鈥渢he most important, in a generation.鈥�
Her comments set the stage for campaign director Trevor McKenzie-Smith, who outlined what the New Democrats can expect in the coming months.
He said the goal for the 2020 campaign is a 鈥済rowth campaign,鈥� promising to elect more 小蓝视频s next year than the party currently has.
He pointed out that the party picked up three seats over the last two-and-a-half years in by-elections.
鈥淲e intend to continue that trajectory into and up to election day in 2020,鈥� McKenzie-Smith said.
According to a report from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, the Saskatchewan Party is targeting the Prince Albert Carlton riding, currently held by Joe Hargrave, minister responsible for SGI, as well as the forest fringe area, which could refer to the Sask. Rivers or Batoche ridings.
Teacher and long-time party volunteer Troy Parenteau has been nominated for Prince Albert Carlton, while for the Batoche riding, the party chose Lon Borgerson, a former NDP 小蓝视频 who successfully won a rural riding in 2003 that had previously been held by the Sask. Party. He told the Daily Herald this week that he鈥檚 in a 鈥渟imilar situation now, seeking to win back a rural constituency.鈥� He said the only way the NDP would ever form government would be to win in rural areas and he hopes to help lead that.
He said that in 2003 he was the NDP鈥檚 only rural 小蓝视频.
While the 2020 election isn鈥檛 until October 26 of next year, some of the NDP鈥檚 messaging is already underway.
鈥淲e鈥檝e embarked on growing the concern across the province for the Sask. Party government's failures,鈥� McKenzie-Smith said.
He mentioned the budget cuts of 2017, as well as 鈥減roblems in education, looming threats to our crowns and a lacking focus on what鈥檚 important right now in people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
He contrasted that with the central message of Osachoff鈥檚 speech, which also matched the text emblazoned on all of the party鈥檚 orange signs, 鈥減eople first.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e saying it, and it鈥檚 true. We鈥檙e going to put people first. People鈥檚 needs will be at the centre of everything we do when we form government, so putting people first will be at the centre of everything we do as a campaign, as we get ready and through the writ period as well.鈥�
McKenzie-Smith said the party can succeed by getting bigger, growing internally and externally. He said the party will use 鈥渘ew tools鈥� to engage with new people, and then provide opportunities for those people to work alongside them.
He stressed that the work cannot wait until next October.
鈥淲e need to get organized right now. We've spent some months now working through plans,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to sit in rooms talking to each other until the beginning of October next year. We want to start getting to work.鈥�
The goal of the party over the coming weeks is to shift to campaigning outreach and talking to voters, he continued.
Some work on developing the platform has already begun, he said, and all nominated candidates so far have participated in workshops to think through and discuss policy in an in-depth way. Those discussions will continue.
鈥榃e all need to be saying the same thing,鈥� McKenzie-Smith said.
鈥淗ow do we succeed? We succeed by telling the story of who we are, and 小蓝视频 disciplined and focused on our message.鈥�
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