Estevan MLA Lori Carr has revealed she will be supporting Scott Moe in the race to be the new leader of the Saskatchewan Party, and the next premier of the province.
Carr was one of 21 MLAs who stood alongside Moe when he announced on Friday that he would be seeking the party’s leadership. Moe has been the MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook since 2011 and has held a number of cabinet posts, including the minister of the environment and the minister of advanced education.
During his tenure as the environment minister, Moe made several visits to Estevan to promote the carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) project at the Boundary Dam Power Station.
“If this technology starts being used in other places across the world, it truly can be a game-changer for greenhouse gas emissions,” said Carr.
He has also been an advocate for the construction of pipelines, so that oil can reach markets in a safe and timely manner, and a critic of the federal government’s plan to impose a carbon tax on Saskatchewan.
“He believes a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be done by continuing to use practices that are already being used … and enhancing those practices to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions,” said Carr.
Investing in technology will help reduce those greenhouse gas emissions, she said.
Carr believes Moe will also bring a fresh perspective as a leader.
“When I was newly elected, Scott was actually one of the few people who took the time to sit down with me and ask me how I liked my new position, and if there was anything he could do to help me transition to provincial politics, and help make that more comfortable.”
When she reflected on which leadership candidate she would support, she thought about that support, and it helped with her decision.
“It showed me he truly is a people person, and cares about those that he works with,” said Carr. “I think he’ll bring that focus to the province as a whole.”
She said the number of MLAs who stood with him the day of the announcement reflects the support of the Sask. Party’s caucus. And she anticipates the support Moe has will continue to grow.
Carr said she will be actively selling memberships to support Moe, and inviting him to the constituency, so that people have an opportunity to meet him and form their own opinion of him.
As of Monday afternoon, the other candidates for the Sask. Party leadership were MLAs Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Ken Cheveldayoff and Gordon Wyant, and long-time public servant Alanna Koch.
