The Northwest region continues to be a focus of NDP leadership candidates as Cam Broten brought his campaign to the Battlefords.
Broten, MLA for Saskatoon Massey Place, is one of four candidates in the provincial NDP leadership race that culminate in March 2013 with the election of a new leader.
Describing the race as a "marathon and not a sprint," Broten has nevertheless gotten off to a fast start both in launching his campaign and in raising money. He was at the offices of the Regional Optimist Wednesday as part of his campaign tour in the city, with individual meetings with supporters planned for the day. The visit was to culminate with a meet-and-greet campaign event in North Battleford at the air cadets hall in the evening.
Recent campaign efforts for Broten have included at a number of Saskatoon events on the weekend, as well as in a variety of communities including Moose Jaw, Regina and Melfort.
He planned to take his campaign to Preeceville and Yorkton after his Battlefords stop, before resuming his critics' duties in the legislature with the opening of the fall session Oct. 25.
Broten currently juggles a number of roles in the nine-member NDP caucus as critic for health, seniors, advanced education, employment and immigration.
His motivation for running, he said, comes from his two daughters Ingrid and Clara. "I have two girls and I want their futures to be brighter and better, not only for my own family but also I want that for all Saskatchewan families."
Broten acknowledged the NDP has some hard rebuilding work to do. He said his party's history is a strong one but "we also know we're not in the shape we're in to be able to provide that credible alternative."
Broten outlined his plans for revitalizing the party, which include ideas for more grassroots engagement.
"We really need to make membership matter," said Broten, including "to allow people that are involved in the party to know that if they are involved they have a real influence in the outcome of decisions."
Broten also said he wants to see their policy be "more democratic" and also elect more women to the legislature. "Not just talk about it but actually do it," he said.
Broten also expressed a desire to see more diversity in the party ranks, as well as "really connect with rural Saskatchewan and regional Saskatchewan, where we have strong roots but where we have a lot to do to connect once again."
In terms of policies for the province, Broten says he has focused on ways to "strengthen democracy in the legislature" as part of his platform.
Those include ideas on changing the way legislation is debated and speeches are made "which I think is really important to elevate the discussion," he said. Broten also told the Regional Optimist he believes the committee structure in the legislature could be more effective in calling witnesses and doing work with the public.
His platform also focuses on healthcare, improved medicare, revitalized farms and rural communities and a greener future.
Broten said he wants to see a focus on "what makes people healthy, so not only treating illness but backing up a stage and looking at the social determinants of health."
He also wants to see investments made in infrastructure, and endorsed using natural resources "wisely and co-operatively" in investments in such areas as education.
Broten's campaign has already attracted several endorsements including former MLAs Frank Quennell and Eric Cline and current Riversdale MLA Danielle Chartier.
Notably Broten has received a big local endorsement from a well-known name in the Battlefords - Len Taylor, the riding's former long time MLA.
Taylor's picture is included in Broten's campaign brochure, where he is quoted as saying "I have no doubt that Cam is ready to provide the leadership we need."
"I was very honoured and very pleased to have Len Taylor's endorsement and support," said Broten.
"We served together in the previous term and I really appreciated his role as house leader, and enjoyed working with him. He's a very hard working individual who cares a lot about his community, so to have his support means a lot to me and I'm very appreciative."
Still, Broten is seeking more support and intends to work hard to sell new NDP memberships and reach out to potential supporters.
The campaign, so far, has been a highly-competitive one with four serious candidates campaigning for the leadership. The other declared candidates are Ryan Meili, Erin Weir and Trent Wotherspoon. Wotherspoon has already been to the Battlefords on a campaign visit this fall.
Beginning in November, all candidates will be involved in a series of NDP all-candidates forums set to take place across Saskatchewan in the months leading up to the March 9, 2013 leadership vote.
One of those stops will be in North Battleford with a leadership forum taking place at the Western Development Museum. The date and time for that event has been confirmed for that event, which goes ahead January 24, 2013 from 7 to 9pm.
