The first woman to lead the Saskatchewan NDP is indicating they are building to win as the party tours the province ahead of the 2024 vote.
Carla Beck after her win on the weekend in Regina is signalling she will be making a stop in Lloydminster in the coming weeks.
“I’m not afraid of getting in those rooms and making those connections. That’s what we have been doing all the way through this campaign. I know we are going to be in Lloydminster in the next three weeks and I look forward to having conversation with the people in Lloydminster and area.”
The new official opposition leader in Saskatchewan says they have an ambitious tour planned across the province as they seek to meet with people and share the NDP story.
“When we have done that, we have met people where they are at. We have listened to the concerns that they have got and it’s not infrequent that by the end of the conversation, we feel that we have got someone who understands that we are willing to listen. That we are serious about forming government in 2024 and they tell us that they are coming our way.”
On several matters, notably high inflation and the ability of residents to even put gas in their car let alone adequate food on the table, Beck says they will continue to call on the government to offer more help to struggling families.
“We’ve been calling on this government to provide some relief as seen in other provinces. You know we have a premier who has said,”Well just a few cents on the gas side of things.” Well that’s not the case. They’ve not been listening to those calls for affordability but we are going to keep raising those concerns because that’s what the people of Saskatchewan are concerned about right now.”
Given the energy revenues available, the premier recently has indicated that the government is looking at ways to offer a “cushion” to offset inflation.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Roe vs Wade and prior the NDP has been calling on the Sask Party government to reaffirm abortion rights.
“We have a justice minister right now who has been on the record speaking against a woman’s right to choose and access to abortion is too difficult in many communities already.”
Beck called upon the government to be “clear on where they are at” on this matter. She added apart from the difficulty in obtaining an abortion, she is concerned about healthcare overall especially the wait times even to see a specialist.
Beck who is a former social worker and school board trustee is MLA for Regina Lakeview.
