MOOSE JAW — Kimberly Epp, Isaiah Hunter and Mike Gardiner will represent the Green Party of Saskatchewan as candidates in the Moose Jaw area during this month’s provincial election.
Epp is running in Moose Jaw North, Hunter is campaigning in Lumsden-Morse and Gardiner is running in Moose Jaw Wakamow.
According to Epp’s biography on the party website:
“Kimberly Epp seeks to bring her lifelong experience as a conservationist and educator to the Legislature as Moose Jaw North's MLA. A talent like hers is vitally needed in government to advocate for the natural world on which our human lives are so dependent.
“Kimberly was raised on a grain farm near Rosthern. She worked for a Swiss family she met on her summer job at Lake Louise for two years, and for a Bavarian family four years later. Young Kimberly was able to travel and hike extensively in Europe, sealing her inspiration to protect and share nature as a career.
“Her early education included assisting in on-site research on snow geese and Arctic foxes in Nunavut. Summer work included a job with Alberta Park Service while awaiting entry into Saskatchewan's conservation officer program.
"After a few years at Beaver Creek, she became involved with Nature Saskatchewan and the Burrowing Owl Educational Centre.
“To mention her many roles and projects, accomplished despite a long struggle with Lyme disease, is beyond our current scope; suffice it to say she has written hundreds of columns in publications such as Nature Saskatchewan's Blue Jay magazine, often emphasizing wildlife rehabilitation; and with Moose Jaw Nature Society, she administers programs through the MJNS, and these often include programs for the whole family.
“Continuing to be treasured as a mainstay of Nature Moose Jaw, Kimberly now adds to it a new program, ‘Wild About Moose Jaw,’ promoting the planting of pollinator gardens. The first seed exchange took place following a presentation by both Nature Regina and Nature Moose Jaw at the Moose Jaw Public Library during Earth Week.”
According to Hunter’s biography:
“The Saskatchewan Green Party is proud to announce our candidate for Lumsden-Morse. Isaiah is a returning candidate for the Saskatchewan Greens (as) he also ran in this constituency in the 2020 provincial election and in the recent 2023 byelection (both in Lumsden-Morse). Isaiah was also the federal Green Party of Canada in the federal riding in which Lumsden resides during the 2021 snap federal election.
“Isaiah attended Lumsden Elementary School and Lumsden High School, where he graduated with distinction and received numerous scholarships to continue his education. Isaiah has been active over his lifetime with Scouts Canada in the area, the Lumsden Lions group, local parks cleanups, and Special Olympics and he donates blood as often as the Red Cross will allow.
“Isaiah attended the University of Regina for one year and is now attending SaskPolytech where he is (completing) his computer automated systems technician course. Isaiah is also the son of (party) leader, Naomi Hunter.”
According to Gardiner's biography:
Mike Gardiner has lived in Moose Jaw for 17 years with his partner and two children. He works as a family support worker and is completing a degree in social work at the University of Regina.
In his spare time, Mike loves to connect with nature by hiking, backcountry camping, canoeing and kayaking. He also enjoys studying the natural sciences, spirituality, technology, psychology, sociology, economics, and political science.
Mike has worked in the field of social work for over a decade and has heard many stories from people from all walks of life, including Indigenous peoples, women, LGBTQ2SA+, seniors, newcomers to Canada, people of colour, people experiencing homelessness, youth and children, parents, people with disabilities, teachers, people with mental illnesses, emergency services workers, students, health-care workers, professionals and small business owners.
It is because of these stories that Mike was moved to lend his voice to speak up on issues often overlooked in provincial elections by the major parties.
Mike believes strongly in
- The preservation of the biosphere and Indigenous seventh-generation principles
- Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a proven solution to the financial struggles of families and individuals, as a means to build up the economy with extra spending power, and as a way to enable people to pay the higher costs of local goods and healthier foods
- Decolonization, with the complete autonomy of Indigenous and Métis peoples, and working towards true reconciliation
- Complete transparency and accountability in government: a provincial government free of corruption, bribery, and party vote whipping
- Fair taxation of the wealthiest 10 per cent and ultra-wealthy corporations, with the closing of tax loopholes. This would provide the funding for social programs like UBI
- Collaboration with other parties when values are aligned
- The equal and equitable rights of all people to be free of racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, and genderism
- Listening to constituents, and exploring actionable solutions for existing unique problems.
- Ending the Saskatchewan Party's corruption (as seen in the ByPass Scandal)
- Treating rivers, wetlands, lakes, and watersheds with the same legal protections as corporations receive -- with the protection of the rights of personhood
- Restoring natural grasslands and wetlands where possible, and making it law for existing wetlands to be protected
The provincial election is on Monday, Oct. 28.
