LA RONGE – A high-ranking Liberal MP from Ontario, Chrystia Freeland, was in La Ronge on Thursday to support Buckley Belanger’s campaign in the Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River riding.
According to campaign officials, Freeland was able to meet with Indigenous leaders and local non-profit organizations.
“Buckley Belanger is an outstanding leader, he has been working hard for his community and the North for a lifetime. Saskatchewan and the First Nations and the Métis community here are very important to Canada and the Liberal party,” said Freeland in her.
“I learned about the needs and the challenges in the North. I learned the urgent need for infrastructure, for roads, houses, the pain of addiction and the need for more investment for real help with this crisis.”
“I heard from devoted leaders of these nations, of these communities and they see the richness of this land, they see a real opportunity to build enduring prosperity for themselves, their children and grandchildren and to build a community, including a community that knows and uses traditional languages.”
“We have a lot of great candidates. As a Western Canadian, it is a personal mission for me, to elect an MP from the West, from the North. I want that western voice in the Liberal party and be in Ottawa,” Freeland said in her interview.
Prior to the election, Freeland was the deputy prime minister of Canada from 2019 to 2024 until she was asked by former prime minister Justin Trudeau to resign last December.
Freeland believes in Buckley and understands the Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River riding is a tight race. Political experts have said it is likely the only riding in Saskatchewan that could turn red on April 28.
Freeland met with representatives from Children North and Men of the North. She had a short meeting with both organizations, and toured their facilities.
Children North provides multiple programs for northern Saskatchewan, focusing on family and mental health support. As of July 1, Children North will be losing core operating funding due to cutbacks with .
Freeland also spoke with Men of the North founder Christopher Merasty. Men of the North promotes self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-forgiveness. They aim to cultivate a greater sense of self-respect among men. This, in turn, will empower members to take responsibility for their lives and contribute to the betterment of their families and communities.
