NORQUAY — Wynn Fedorchuk, the NDP candidate for the Canora-Pelly constituency, is confident that his party can bring much-needed change to Saskatchewan, focusing on affordability, healthcare, and job creation. In a recent interview with the Kamsack Times, Fedorchuk discussed his motivations for running, as well as his vision for the future of his hometown and province.
“The Saskatchewan Party has had 17 years to create a healthy and functional province, and they’ve done the opposite,” Fedorchuk said. “The Saskatchewan NDP has great leadership and a great group of candidates, and we have the talent and the compassion to get the job done.”
A lifelong resident of the Canora-Pelly region, Fedorchuk was inspired to enter politics after seeing the challenges facing his community. He pointed to persistent healthcare issues as a major concern, citing the constant disruptions in local emergency room services.
“Our ERs are constantly disrupted,” Fedorchuk explained. “One day Kamsack announces the ER is open, the next day they’re directing patients to Preeceville or Canora. It’s just constant.”
Fedorchuk also spoke about the growing affordability concerns, especially among seniors, noting that many are struggling with the rising cost of living. “They’ve worked their entire lives, and now their pensions aren’t covering what they used to,” he said. “Giving the people of my hometown a voice is what inspired me to get into politics.”
Growing up on a cattle farm in the area, Fedorchuk has deep roots in the rural farming community. He and his wife Anna both grew up on cattle farms, and after completing their post-secondary education in Saskatoon, they returned, now residing in Norquay, Sask.
When it comes to his policy platform, Fedorchuk highlighted several key areas where the NDP is aiming to make life more affordable for families. One initiative includes a six-month suspension of the provincial gas tax, which he said could save drivers an estimated $365 over the period.
“The Manitoba government suspended their gas tax, and for me, commuting between Norquay and Swan River, that’s saved me a lot,” Fedorchuk said.
Currently working as a mental health worker at Swan River Hospital, Fedorchuk said his experience in healthcare gives him unique insight into how to address the province’s healthcare challenges. He emphasized the need for more input from healthcare workers in policy decisions and stressed the importance of hiring and retaining more healthcare professionals.
“We need to start involving healthcare workers in the decision-making process,” he said. “They’re the ones who know the system best.”
On the topic of job creation, Fedorchuk hinted at plans for tax incentives to support local businesses and encourage them to hire more workers. While he didn’t reveal the full details of the NDP’s economic plan, he mentioned that the party is focused on creating good-paying jobs by supporting local industries.
“That platform is slowly being rolled out but we have a lot of incentives and tax incentives for businesses. I just don't know what the whole platform rollout is going to look like yet that's coming in the next couple of weeks so I don't want to say too much about that,” he said.
In the education sector, Fedorchuk outlined the NDP’s proposal to double the education budget. The additional funding would help build new schools, particularly in the Regina and Moose Jaw areas, and provide more support for children with special needs.
“So we're right off the bat doubling the education budget. That's because we've been listening to the teachers and it's not about teachers just wanting more pay, I mean that's certainly part of it, but it's really about a getting more schools built we're planning on building one for sure in the Regina and Moose Jaw area and then the second thing is hiring more people to work with those children who have those complex needs that teachers just aren't able to to address. They have very overcrowded classrooms and some of these children that have special needs they're getting left behind because they don't have the one-on-one support they need,” he said.
As the campaign progresses, Fedorchuk remains hopeful that voters will recognize the need for change in Canora-Pelly, a constituency that has been held by a Saskatchewan Party MLA for nearly three decades.
“Saskatchewan is desperate for change,” he said. “And Canora-Pelly, especially, is long overdue. We've had a Sask Party MLA in our seat for about 27 years now and it's long overdue for change.”
