REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe provided his best wishes today to the newly elected NDP Premier of Manitoba Wab Kinew.
In a media availability with reporters Wednesday, Moe said he “welcome(d) and congratulate Premier-designate Wab Kinew on his victory last night, a very decisive victory. You know, the people are always right, whether it be a provincial, municipal, or federal election. We look forward to working with him and also thank Premier Heather Stefanson for her services as leader of the (PC) party..."
The result marks a sharp left turn for Manitoba compared to the seven years of PC rule, and also a leftward stance compared to the more right-leaning government in Saskatchewan. Premier Moe nevertheless expects a good working relationship despite their philosophical differences.
“As you know, politics are different between likely where I will be on certain issues versus Premier-designate Kinew, but in saying that, largely where we interact will be at the Council of Federation table, and we work with leaders of all political stripes at that table, and I would say work quite effectively. So, look forward to working with Premier-designate Kinew at the Council of the Federation table.”
When asked about Kinew being the first First Nations individual to be provincial premier, Moe said “it’s about time.”
“And I think it makes not only last night’s win by Wab Kinew, I think, impactful on the whole nation, and something the whole nation will most certainly identify with, but I think equally provides the opportunity not for a different type of leadership, but most certainly a very respectful type of leadership.”
Health care an election issue
Kinew had won by running a campaign largely focusing on the health care issue, which is also an issue in Saskatchewan. Moe acknowledged there were human resource challenges seen in Saskatchewan, but also noted that “is non-exclusive to the province of Saskatchewan.”
“We talk about this openly not only at the health minister ‘s table, but at the premier’s table about how we can work together to bring more people and ultimately attract more people from abroad as well into our national healthcare syste."
He called health care "a challenge properly identified by Premier Designate Wab Kinew, but also a challenge that each and every other leader has not only identified but had numerous discussions on over the last number of years as well.”
Moe also pointed to the steps Saskatchewan had taken in addressing that issue including the four-point plan aimed at recruiting and retaining health care workers. But the province’s recent recruitment efforts in Atlantic Canada may have prompted the response this week from Newfoundland and Labrador, who have countered with their own recruitment events in Saskatchewan starting this evening in Regina.
When asked about those, Moe responded “maybe this is a reaction to some of the pretty ambitious recruiting we were doing within the nation of Canada.
“I would just say is that there are jobs fairs that are being held at post secondary institutions across Canada. We’re going to attend those job fairs. Other provinces attend those job fairs as well. We were maybe slightly ambitious in the last number of weeks given the urgency that we feel around recruiting people into our healthcare facilities into Saskatchewan as we went a little bit beyond those job fairs, so I think what you’re seeing here today is a little bit of a reaction to that.
“I’ve talked to Premier (Anthony) Furey, our health minister has talked with their health minister as well and there is likely to be a little bit of discussion the next time we come together, which is in a not too distant future, to discuss healthcare, and specifically our respective health human resources recruitment plans that each of the provinces have. The goal ultimately is to build a strong national system. The goal, and to how we do that, is through building strong provincial systems in so poaching workers, active working workers one problems to another doesn’t really help with a broader goal that we all had in mind and agreed to. However, having a competitive hiring environment in our post secondary institutes is most certainly is in the best interest of all Canadians. So we’re maybe just recalibrating a little bit on what we do when we go out of province, but most certainly continuing to work collaboratively with our other provinces as well. And what you’re seeing her is maybe a little bit of a reaction to our province being a little bit ambitious, which is a good problem for us to have.”
Early election possible in Saskatchewan?
Premier Moe was also asked a couple of times by reporters about whether he would call an election earlier than next fall. Both times the Premier indicated that thought hadn’t crossed his mind.
“No,” replied Moe when asked if he was considering a spring election after the budget, after which he quipped “should we?”
The next provincial election is set to happen Oct. 28 of next year under the province’s fixed-election law.
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