Protecting quality of life in rural Saskatchewan while also ensuring economically sustainable is a chief concern for the Green Party of Saskatchewan’s new rural revitalization platform for the next provincial election.
Although the election is 20 months away, likely in April 2016, Saskatchewan Green party leader Victor Lau said his party hopes to address unresolved issues in rural areas.
“There’s definitely, from our viewpoint travelling the province, discontent in rural Saskatchewan,” said Lau.
Lau pointed to regions where he said communities are frustrated with the current government they helped elect.
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“Especially in the southwest, a lot of people are resentful that, yes they elected Sask. Party MLAs and yes there’s a lot of resource development and job creation happening there, but all the money is being channelled out of there. Not much is being reinvested back into safety on the highways, community services, health care, that kind of thing,” he said.
“There’s starting to be more and more cracks in the walls (of the Saskatchewan Party), so to speak and we hope to go out there and sell our platform…”
“We feel there’s a lightening rod that potentially that might go to us if we can get out there and show them that we believe in rural Saskatchewan.”
The Saskatchewan Party currently holds 49 of 58 seats in the provincial legislature, while the New Democratic Party holds nine. Saskatchewan Party leader Brad Wall, is the MLA for Swift Current in the southwest region.
In the Green Party news release, it listed 15 points for rural revitalization:
• Allowing registered nurses added privileges for ongoing patient care such as refilling regular prescriptions
• Expanded health services to include basic dental care for children under 18, ambulance services and chiropractic services.
• Work with farmers to develop a plan to decrease farm debt to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Launch a ‘buy Saskatchewan local’ marketing campaign.
• Create a ministry of rural services to oversee the development of the revitalization plan.
