Unifor and Saskatchewan Building Trades both endorsed Carla Beck and the Saskatchewan NDP on Friday afternoon in Regina.
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With two-and-a-half days of early voting in the books, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck made another appeal to those who have yet to vote and those who might be on the fence.
“There are still some people out there who are still weighing their decision,” said Beck, speaking Friday at Gate 7 of the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina.
Backed by Unifor 594 members and trade workers, Beck made the case that elections are more than a team sport where you vote either green (for the Sask. Party) or orange (NDP).
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“This goes beyond slogans,” she said. “It goes beyond talking points. This is about the future of our province.”
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Beck’s focus during Friday’s speech was on health-care outcomes, education funding and the rising cost of living. Based on two years of door knocking and speaking more recently with potential voters during this election cycle, Beck insists they want change in this provincial election.
“People are tired of leaders like Scott Moe and the Sask. Party telling them that everything is just fine when they know damn well that it isn’t,” she said.
Among those who gathered to endorse Beck and the NDP on Friday was Unifor western regional director Gavin McGarrigle, representing some 8,500 workers in Saskatchewan. He was joined by Dion Malakoff, executive director of Saskatchewan Building Trades.
“Our organization is 7,000 members strong,” Malakoff began, “and as the executive director of the building trades, I want to say, ‘Carla, you have our support.’”
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Not far away at the Turvey Centre, Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe was addressing dozens of supporters and candidates.
He said the choice for this election “has ever been more clear.”
“You can vote for the NDP with their record of decline, loss and closure or you can chose a strong economy for our province and a bright future for our children,” said Moe, who continued to evoke the record of prior NDP governments regarding closures of hospital and schools.
Beck, meanwhile, expressed confidence that change could be in store for Saskatchewan after witnessing recent swings in provincial elections in New Brunswick and British Columbia.
“We intend to win this election,” Beck said. “We’re not taking anything for granted.”
At least one poll, which was teased by Mainstreet Research on Wednesday, indicated the NDP was in position to win the popular vote. However, due to the constituency system and the distribution of seats, it suggested that the Sask. Party is still positioned to form yet another majority government.
In particular, urban constituencies appear be be leaning toward the NDP in this election.
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Asked if her party ceded rural constituencies, Beck refuted the claim.
“We have run a campaign that is aimed at families right across this province,” she said. “We know people in rural Saskatchewan have been hit with some of the worst outcomes when it comes to health care.”
According to Elections Saskatchewan, 119,406 ballots were cast over the first two days of advanced voting. By comparison, 184,742 ballots were cast over five days in 2020.
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