Much of the story of the Sask Party leadership debate took place off the main stage at the Dekker Centre in North Battleford Thursday night.
Inclement snow conditions produced “travel not recommended” warnings for all roads coming into North Battleford, with reports of cars in the ditch and traffic backups on Highway 16.
The weather was clearly to blame for depressed attendance at the event, with the Dekker Centre seats not even half-full for Thursday night’s debate.
It also made for a difficult travel day for the leadership contenders coming to the city, but in the end Gord Wyant, Ken Cheveldayoff, Alanna Koch, Scott Moe and Tina Beaudry-Mellor all showed up.
Also showing up was former MP and RCMP sergeant Rob Clarke, who declared his entry into the leadership contest earlier in the week.
But Clarke’s entry came too late for him to be included on the debate stage Thursday. According to the party rules, all candidates must have filed their nominations officially with the party a week in advance in order to be included in the debate.
Going into Thursday’s debate, the Clarke campaign had reached out to the News-Optimist to voice displeasure about not being included on account of a “technicality.” Clarke told reporters in North Battleford that he had sent in his paperwork to the party at 3:30 p.m. earlier that day.
“I was just hoping they could expedite the matter so that I could meet with the membership, get the points across. I was fully aware and ready for a debate,” said Clarke.
Patrick Bundrock, executive director of the Sask Party, disputed Clarke’s claim that he had officially filed.
“I’m still looking forward to receiving Mr. Clarke’s papers,” said Bundrock to reporters.
“I haven’t received a copy of Mr. Clarke’s filing. I’ve received an email from him. I look forward to receiving the filing tomorrow, and having Mr. Clarke through the process as quickly as possible so that he can participate fully in the next set of upcoming debates.”
In speaking to the media, Clarke seemed most disappointed about not getting an opportunity to promote his own distinct vision for the party going forward.
“I’m a little bit disappointed because it seems like the same old status quo – you heard it here tonight. It’s almost the same old mantra, ‘everything’s all great and dandy.’ Saskatchewan faces some challenging times.”
Indeed, the debate in North Battleford followed a similar script to the others held in Swift Current, Melfort and Saskatoon. There was widespread agreement seen on the issues and on Sask Party initiatives, and also no questions posed on the hot-button issue of the GTH.
The first question posed to the candidates was on the crime issue. The question referred to the recent CBC article about a young woman who had left North Battleford for Saskatoon because of the crime situation.
In his response, Scott Moe pointed to the findings of the caucus committee on crime chaired by Herb Cox and pledged resources to deal with the issue.
“As we move forward we need to continue to provide additional resources to ensure that this is addressed moving forward, to ensure that people, families and residents feel safe in their places and homes across this province,” said Moe.
Koch believed more employment opportunities were needed to help deter crime. “A strong economy means more jobs means healthy communities. Jobs means less crime.”
Cheveldayoff pointed to a meeting he attended in Paradise Hill the previous Friday along with Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young. Some 500 residents attended and included remarks from a former RCMP sergeant, a Crown prosecutor, a judge as well as a former perpetrator of crime.
“We have to look at the root causes of crime, we have to make it a priority,” said Cheveldayoff.
Wyant pointed to his own role in creating the Provincial Response Team, to “create a more visible approach to crime prevention in rural Saskatchewan.”
He also pointed to supports enhancing the Community Safety Officer program including the one in North Battleford, that “as a low cost policing alternative, is important in terms of reducing crime.”
In her responses, Beaudry-Mellor wanted to see underlying issues such as homelessness and addictions addressed. She pointed to the 34 RCMP officers in North Battleford already as well as the dual-policing system that was brought in.
“If more policing was the end of the answer you would see a reduction in crime but that has not happened,” said Beaudry-Mellor.
She expressed support for initiatives like Housing First and “seamless pathways” for people with alcohol and drug issues. Beaudry-Mellor also supported engaging the elders of Battlefords Tribal Council and surrounding First Nations to “help at-risk youth who are attracted by gangs in these communities.”
Candidates were also asked about the recent Cameco layoffs and nuclear power generation – another issue of local importance because of Bruce Power’s bid to build a nuclear reactor in Saskatchewan years ago. There had been an extensive provincial consultation at the time, and the government ultimately decided not to proceed with it.
Koch suggested that consultation was “maybe too soon for a new government.” But Koch indicated she was open to taking a second look at the issue.
“We need to consider nuclear,” said Koch, who cited an improvement in reactor technology. “It’s time to have that conversation with Saskatchewan people again.”
Cheveldayoff was also open to revisiting nuclear. “Technology has changed, and maybe it’s time that we looked at it again,” he said.
One of the most interesting responses came when candidates were asked about which of the eight core principles of the Saskatchewan Party they found most important. Gord Wyant took umbrage at the idea of picking just one.
“These are integrated principles, they are the very foundation of the party,” said Wyant.
“I’m not going to pick one. I’m going to tell you that all eight of these principles are vital to the continued and ongoing success of this party. And we need to be clear, we need to be conscious of all eight of them, because if we ignore one then we’re going to ignore the founding principles of our party and we do that at our peril.”
The campaign now continues for all the candidates in the race, with two more official debates scheduled and deadlines fast approaching for membership sales.
The leadership convention will be Jan. 27, 2018. Party officials confirmed at Thursday’s debate that Prairieland Park in Saskatoon will be the venue for that gathering.
