BATTLEFORDS - Former advisor to former premier Brad Wall, Ian Hanna joined NDP candidate for the Battlefords Tom Kroczynski at Kroczynski's campaign office recently for a press conference on the NDP's support for education.
Hanna is currently volunteering for the Saskatchewan NDP and was here visiting from Regina.
He wanted to come to the Battlefords to support Kroczynski because he believes as a valued professional in the community, Kroczynski is a strong candidate in the race for the MLA seat for the Battlefords.
"Some might argue that he should still be in the classroom [teaching], but I think it's good he stepped up and he's willing to take a larger role endorsing the community," Hanna said. "An election is a lot like a job interview and Tom is interviewing for the job. One thing that employers want to ask is how could this person solve the problems we have. I think Tom is a problem solver. I think the current government is the opposite of that. I think they create problems."
He said the current government created problems in healthcare and created "chaos" in the classrooms in Saskatchewan.
"Tom has absolutely set out to help resolve those problems with a new NDP government under Carla Beck," added Hanna. "I can't help but note the amount of respect and admiration he has in the community of North Battleford. Driving around with him in his wonderful standard-drive automobile for a couple of days now, students stop and wave and say 'Hi,' and smile at him, and kids say 'Hi, Mr. K.' So I think he would be a wonderful person to represent the interests [of the community]."
Hanna said Kroczynski understands the community and he has the kind of values that would allow him to be a "great representative of the new government."
Kroczynski noted he is feeling positive about the upcoming election on Oct. 28.
"We're feeling extremely optimistic," he said. "Having somebody like Ian come up here and support us, not just with his work, but with his actions [is important]. As Ian said, we've going going up and down the streets, knocking on doors, finding voters we haven't spoken to yet, finding voters we have spoken to, or who were still undecided and are now ready to make the move towards the NDP as they go out to vote. Yeah, we're really excited. We did the same thing here in the community. We have had tons of support. On Saturday [Oct. 19] we had a huge crowd in here with [NDP leader] Carla Beck visiting and building this excitement. We have people signed up left and right to go out and do the job, to make sure everybody gets out and votes."
