Saskatchewan New Democrat Leadership Campaign

Saskatchewan New Democrats Choose Dwain Lingenfelter As Leader

2009-06-06T14:39:00.001-07:00

Saskatchewan's Official Opposition New Democratic Party elected a new Leader today to replace the outgoing Lorne Calvert.

Here are the results of today's leadership election held in Regina:

First Ballot - (9444 Votes cast)
Dwain Lingenfelter: 4360
Ryan Meili: 2401
Yens Pedersen: 1380
Deb Higgins: 1303
(Higgins falls off and Pedersen withdraws)

Second Ballot - (9130 Votes cast)
Dwain Lingenfelter: 5028
Ryan Meili: 4102

CBC Saskatchewan has more ....

Generational Polarization - Not Ideological - Main Feature Of Sask NDP Leadership Race

2009-06-02T08:57:00.001-07:00

There are four candidates actively seeking the leadership of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party. This Saturday, June 6th, the decision will be made in convention in Regina.

A key distinguishing feature of this race has been the breakdown of candidates, supporters and issues along generational lines as opposed to what usually would be along ideological lines.

During the last Saskatchewan leadership race in 2001, traditional Left/Right factions polarized around Lorne Calvert and Chris Axworthy. Calvert won and Axworthy eventually left the party to run federally for the Liberals. The departure of Axworthy ultimately proved that the Saskatchewan NDP made the correct decision by not selecting him as leader.

This time around, old ideological divisions seem to be taking a second seat to the desire for generational change that is being demanded by the ‘non-babyboomer’ demographic in the party. New Democrats of every ideological persuasion should be ecstatic about the vibrant and articulate youth element that is alive and well in the party. If anything should send shivers through the ranks of the currently governing Saskatchewan Party, it is the sheer size of the youth component active in the NDP.

Candidates Ryan Meili and Yens Pedersen have both clearly articulated their desire for generational change this time around. What they lack in long time experience and activity in the party is largely supplemented by their commitment to social democratic principles and policy. Both are to be commended for making this race a race of ideas.

Dwain Lingenfelter and Deb Higgins have both articulated a vision for the party based on their hard won experience and active service as Members of the Legislature. What they lack in youth is supplemented by the battle scars of active political combat that they have won in the trenches.

Regardless of who wins on Saturday, (be it a veteran New Democrat or a ‘new gen - New Dem’), the Saskatchewan NDP will rally around the new leader. No one has a monopoly on righteousness in the NDP. As a result, our Leader must submit to being a servant of the party. Anything short of that they do at their own peril within the mechanisms of the party. We are a party of ideas and we continue to offer the only real alternative to those on the Right who have damaged the world’s economy with their ongoing commitment to ‘unfettered free market’ nonsense.

Meanwhile .. back in the real world ... Nova Scotia NDP On The Verge Of Forming Government!!

2009-05-29T13:39:00.001-07:00

Pity the Nova Scotia Liberals! No one wants to put up a lawn sign for their candidates. What to do? I know! Demand that ALL candidates take down their election signage and say that it's an 'environmental concern'! LOL!

Liberal candidate wants all election campaign signs down

Photo courtesy Tyler Kinch

Endorsements Starting To Roll In For Lingenfelter And Meili

2009-05-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

I had decided not to feature publicly declared 'endorsements' for the candidates during this race. However, the lists of supporters for both Dwain Lingenfelter and Ryan Meili are starting to mount and are certainly worth noting:

-Dwain Lingenfelter Endorsements

-Ryan Meili Endorsements

Meili Wants To Limit Purchase Of Memberships For Others

2009-05-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

Ryan Meili has offered a very good recommendation in his blog. The party should take note:

"Since the opportunity for such abuses persists, we need to make a constitutional amendment to the party rules that prevents this kind of outcome. One simple way would be to disallow buying anyone else a membership. If that is seen as too restrictive, perhaps one could be allowed to purchase a small number (<5) for friends and family, with the membership form changed to clearly denote the purchaser. At the very least, no candidate or campaign team should ever be able to buy memberships for anyone during a nomination or leadership election."
Ryan Meili

Yens Pedersen's Thoughts On Negative Campaigning

2009-05-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

"One of the other leadership campaigns has been using negative attack language about me in the leadership race. One of their attacks goes something like: ‘Yens ran on a platform of renewal when he ran for president but by the time he stepped down as president, the party was in worse shape than ever.’ The problem with this attack is that it simply isn’t true."
Yens Pedersen

Hale Reports On Rejected Memberships In NDP Leadership Race

2009-05-14T13:33:00.001-07:00

Robert Hale, a Saskatchewan lawyer was commissioned by the provincial New Democratic Party to conduct a review into the specifics of how 1100 potential memberships requests came about. The Provincial Office of the party has issued the following news release:

"Stricter oversight by both the Dwain Lingenfelter campaign and the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party might have prevented the invalid sale of NDP memberships in the Meadow Lake constituency from going as far as it did, Robert Hale said today.

But Hale, a Swift Current lawyer who investigated the membership affair on behalf of the party, said the safeguards in place for the process caught the irregularities in a number of areas, and voting process for the June 6 Party Leadership was not put at risk.

“The (Dwain) Lingenfelter campaign did not direct, authorize or condone this activity,” Hale said. “However, their policies did allow this to proceed further than it should have. If they had taken more time to speak with (the local DLC volunteer) and perhaps to members of the Band offices prior to spending $10,000, this could have been stopped sooner.”

However, sufficient concerns about the amount and quality of the membership applications were raised by the Lingenfelter campaign, the Provincial Office staff, the Meadow Lake constituency, the Chief of one of the Bands involved, and the other three Leadership candidates, that the problem was resolved early enough to prevent any negative consequences.

Hale concluded that (the local DLC volunteer) acted alone, without the authority or approval of the Lingenfelter campaign. However, he said that even if the intent had been to control the election with these improper ballots, it would not have worked.

“For those who might claim that this was an attempt at some type of voting fraud, it is important to note that the address was the Band office,” Hale said. “While we do have enough information to question the integrity of the individual who presented these applications, it would be entirely inappropriate to question the integrity of the officials at the Bands.

“Band officials would have arranged for members to receive their mail. The most likely outcome is that many ballots would have gone in the trash because people were not expecting them or they would have been returned to sender because the address was incorrect.”

He rejected out-of-hand (the local DLC volunteer) explanation to the Lingenfelter campaign of why he acted as he did because such actions are acceptable in Aboriginal communities. He said his consultation with past candidates, volunteers, canvassers, local executives and other volunteers clearly indicated this was not the case.

Hale accepted and supported the philosophy which allows Party members to pay for the membership of others, but said this case indicates the Party needs to put in place tighterregulations on this practice.

Saskatchewan NDP Provincial Secretary Deb McDonald said the Party now considers the matter closed.
“We are satisfied with the report and in due course will consider Mr. Hale’s recommendations about how this incident could be avoided in the future,” McDonald said. “At this time, however, the Party believes it is now time to move forward with letting the members decide who the next leader of the New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan will be.”

In addition, the $11,000 that was paid for the rejected memberships has been confiscated by the New Democratic Party and will be used to defray the costs of the Hale inquiry. Should the $11,000 not cover the full cost of the review, the Lingenfelter campaign must pay for the difference.

When the Hale Report news conference concluded, Dwain Lingenfelter was scrumed by the local media. One question, in particular, caught my attention:

-Reporter: Do you feel vindicated by the review?
-Lingenfelter: I felt vindicated when I wrote to the Party asking them to review me and my campaign.

UPDATE:
I am monitoring the websites for all 4 candidates to see if there are any further statements on the Hale Report. I will post them as they appear:
-Statememt by Dwain Lingenfelter
-Statement by Ryan Meili

Pedersen Reprimands Wall Government For Watered Down Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets

2009-05-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

"The Saskatchewan Party’s brand new legislation, The Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Act (introduced Tuesday) pays only lip service to addressing climate change. The legislation is a baby-step in the right direction but doesn’t even come close to righting the wrong of watering down their greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets or stripping the $320 million Green Futures Fund left by the NDP.

The government has broken its promise to keep the same targets as the last government and instead adopted the weaker federal targets. We should be shooting for a 40% reduction by 2020 which is double what the government has identified."
Yens Pedersen
'Too Little Too Late'

Meili Campaign Launches YouTube Channel

2009-05-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

"NDP leadership candidate Ryan Meili wants to reach a new generation of political activists. To do so, he’s using the viral power of online social networks to change the way politics is practiced in Saskatchewan.

Today, the campaign officially released a series of digital videos on party renewal, agriculture and rural life, the environment, First Nations and Métis issues and health care. Meili hopes that his supporters will promote the videos across their online social networks and in the blogosphere.

“When M.J. Coldwell and Tommy Douglas were building our party, they depended on people sharing the CCF story and vision with their friends and neighbours,” said Meili. “We’re just doing the same thing in a 21st century way. Online communities created through social networking allow people with common political values to organize and to inspire each other.”

Ryan Meili YouTube

'Restoring the Mandate of SaskEnergy' - Lingenfelter Policy Statement

2009-05-11T11:51:00.001-07:00

After the brutal gouging that Saskatchewan natural gas consumers endured from our incompetent Saskatchewan Party administration this past winter, the following policy statement is timely:

"A province with abundant reserves of natural gas should be able to use that natural bounty as a strategic advantage in economic development and to shield its people from frequent spikes in the world market price. We can’t do that in Saskatchewan today, because we no longer own any natural gas reserves. Considering that its hands were tied by the Devine government’s privatization agenda, SaskEnergy has done a remarkable job trying to protect the people of Saskatchewan from the volatility of natural gas prices. During the nineteen nineties, the corporation developed a hedging and storage program to cushion Saskatchewan people from the effects of wild fluctuations in the price of natural gas. This allowed the public utility to purchase natural gas supplies at lower prices (usually during the spring and summer months), store large amounts of natural gas underground for use during the winter season, and avoid the worst price spikes of the open market.

This system worked until the Wall government began to interfere with it in 2008. Political interference resulted in SaskEnergy locking in high prices for its natural gas supplies in the summer of 2008. The result was a 20% increase in the cost of natural gas for Saskatchewan people at a time when the market price was plunging by 40%. The effects of this political blunder were magnified by a very cold winter. Now it is time to consider restoring the full mandate of SaskEnergy; to allow this efficient public utility not only to buy natural gas on the open market, but to explore for and develop its own natural gas reserves on behalf of its customers, the people of Saskatchewan."
Restoring the Mandate of SaskEnergy

Lingenfelter Promises Full Cooperation With Party Probe

2009-05-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

REGINA -- "Dwain Lingenfelter promised full co-operation with an NDP investigation into 1,100 improperly obtained party memberships even as its terms of reference released Thursday contained new revelations — including that his campaign had purchased the $10 memberships mostly with small bills.

The former deputy premier apologized Monday for a lack of oversight in the campaign and for what he said was the work of an overzealous volunteer in signing up individuals en masse on the Flying Dust and Waterhen Lake First Nations without their consent or knowledge."
Regina Leader-Post

Lingenfelter Releases Immigration and Multiculturalism Strategy

2009-05-07T16:25:00.001-07:00

"Immigration is crucial to Saskatchewan’s future economic growth, social development, and prosperity. It is clear that the combination of Saskatchewan’s aging population, the growth of our economy, and a labour shortage across a number of important occupations will necessitate an increase in international immigration over the next several years. Along with our Aboriginal population, these new immigrants will form the foundation of Saskatchewan’s labour force and economy in the 21st century."
Dwain Lingenfelter

Party Outlines Hale's Terms of Reference

2009-05-07T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hale's Terms of Reference

Ryan Meili On First Nations And Metis

2009-05-06T09:37:00.001-07:00

The Meili campaign has released a video concerning his policies on First Nations and Metis in Saskatchewan.

Membership Controversy Livens Up Campaign!

2009-05-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a good old fashioned political controversy to liven up a fairly lack lustre leadership campaign! In fact the strutting and sputter that is coming from the Saskatchewan Party is almost laughable considering a couple of looming 'controversies' that are percolating around them at the moment .. (more on that later).

Kudos to NDP Provincial Secretary, Deb McDonald for her handling of the membership questions to date.

Officials of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party have decided to toss out all 1100 memberships that were brought forward by the Lingenfelter campaign and which came under question as the deadline for memberships ended.

Some of the candidates are now commenting on the matter;
-Dwain Lingenfelter's news conference ...
-Ryan Meili's thoughts ...

Membership Hits 14,169 - Some Questions Out Of The North

2009-05-02T15:59:00.000-07:00

Next month, 14,169 members will be entitled to cast a vote for the next leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party.

CBC Saskatchewan is reporting that there have been a few complaints out of northern Saskatchewan concerning membership eligibility. Provincial Secretary, Deb McDonald has indicated that she will investigate.

CBC Saskatchewan

Odds And Ends From The Race!

2009-04-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

-Higgins Unveils Plan To Protect Environment, Build Green Economy

-NDP leadership candidate practices medicine in Wynyard

-Pedersen Encouraged By His Poll Results

Murray Mandryk Wades In

NDP Leadership Forum - Regina

2009-04-24T09:30:00.001-07:00

Accidental Deliberations has excellent coverage on last night's Leadership Forum in Regina.

Saskatchewan Main Stream Media Attacks NDP Leadership Candidates Meili and Lingenfelter

2009-04-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

If you hold any doubt that the main stream media (MSM) in Saskatchewan is trying to downplay or negatively portray the NDP leadership race, yesterday's news coverage will set you straight.

The most disturbing of two separate stories was an attempt by CTV affiliates to try and negatively portray Ryan Meili's attendance at the Summit of the Americas Conference in Quebec City in 2001. For starters, the issue that they raised occurred nearly a decade ago. A CTV reporter questioned Meili's protest activities towards globalization in what can only be described as an amateurish news segment.

For perspective, the Saskatoon Star Phoenix published an article in April, 2001 concerning the police brutality that Mr. Meili was subjected to while in Quebec City.

In another article:
"University of Saskatchewan law Prof. Tim Quigley said it’s not clear to him how police were justified in arresting the three men unless some Quebec provincial or municipal law gave them a right to clear the alley. If they had no such authority, then they were not lawfully carrying out their duties and no obstruction by the protesters was possible, he said."
Saskatoon Star Phoenix
January, 2003

The second example of recent negative MSM treatment of a candidate for the NDP Leadership was the April 15th article by Murray Mandryk concerning Dwain Lingenfelter:

"Well, notwithstanding all the big and little "p" politics in play here, Lingenfelter does deserve to be taken to task here. For one thing, it's absolute nonsense for the one-time NDP privatization critic, who vowed at the time to make Saskatchewan "ungovernable", to suggest his party could have done more. The 100-plus hours of NDP filibustering on the legislation to privatize the Potash Corp. was the longest debate in Saskatchewan legislative history and resulted in the use of foreclosure at the legislature for the first time."
Murray Mandryk
Regina Leader-Post
Saskatoon Star Phoenix

Meili Responds To SNDW

2009-04-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

The Saskatchewan New Democratic Women (SNDW) issued questions to each of the four leadership candidates. Today we are publishing Ryan Meili's responses:

(Q) What steps will you take to ensure that women have greater participation in leadership positions at all levels within the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party?

· Too often in our party, there has been no succession planning, no deliberate process of institutional renewal in constituency associations and party sections. We should be constantly identifying and mentoring potential new leaders. This process includes a determined effort to seek out women, and people from other under-represented groups, as candidates and party leaders.

· Coordinated mentorship from women and men in caucus, on the executive and in other leadership roles in the party will foster the involvement of the next generation of women leaders.

· Retreats and courses for female party activists, particularly involving current and former female MLAs and party office holders, would help interested women chart their own political future.

· Hiring a staff organizer for the SNDW who could facilitate this process would support a more proactive approach to identifying and mentoring potential future leaders for the party’s internal structures, as well as future candidates.

· As with Provincial Council, where there are several positions to be elected at once, it is a simple matter to require gender equity. Where there is one office (ie, party president), it is important to ensure that the nominating committee gives due consideration to female candidates.

Perhaps the most important strategy is to have policies that address issues that are important to women. If we advocate for pay equity, affordable child care and other policies that address societal inequities lines, we will attract more women to the party as voters, members and leaders.

(Q) What specific actions will you take to ensure the NDP meets its goal of having women make up 50 per cent of candidates in the 2011 election?

· Candidate recruitment must include identifying strong and credible female candidates in every constituency. Over the next 18 months, I will continue to work with party leaders and other progressives in every constituency to identify potential candidates.

· We should adapt the federal party’s nomination rules require at least one equity-seeking candidate in the race before a nominating convention can happen.

· All candidacies should be challenged. No candidate for a nomination – no incumbent MLA, no identified star candidate, not even the leader – will be protected from a contested nomination.

· We also need to address barriers to women as MLAs. The legislature must become a better working environment where sexism is not tolerated, where discourse is more respectful, where child care is available, and where work hours allow for a family life.

· Income security is a real issue for many potential candidates, especially single mothers. Job security provisions of The Elections Act should be extended to ban the practice of forcing nominated candidates to take unpaid leave from their job prior to an election being called.

Having diverse candidates is in keeping with the egalitarian philosophy of the NDP. It also translates into electoral success: a great combination. With concentrated effort we can go from talking 50% to showing it and winning with women as candidates in key ridings.

Meili Challenges Star Phoenix Over Its Claim That 'The NDP Will Take Saskatchewan Back To The Past'

2009-04-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

"Saskatchewan has the greatest potential for wind and solar energy production in the country. We can obtain all of our energy needs from renewable sources such as wind, solar and small-scale hydro rather than non-renewable technologies such as coal, fossil fuels and nuclear power. These can come online much more quickly and less expensively than nuclear power."
Ryan Meili

Pedersen Takes Sask Party To Task For 'Manufacturing Consent'

2009-04-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

"Regardless of what you happen to believe about the feasibility of nuclear power, Saskatchewan people ought to be up in arms about this. Nothing in this entire process is about educating the public or seeking public approval. This is a textbook case of manufacturing consent."
Yens Pedersen

Higgins Wants To Fight Poverty

2009-04-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

From CBC Saskatchewan:"NDP leadership candidate Deb Higgins wants to make poverty a key issue in the next provincial election, saying she wants to reduce the number of people living below the poverty line by 25 per cent.

That can be done by building more affordable housing, boosting the minimum wage and giving more help to people with addictions, Higgins said.

Her anti-poverty plan also calls for:

* Increased access to mental health and addiction services.
* More support for childcare, including more spaces and help for parents working non-traditional hours.
* More money for literacy programs and community schools.

Higgins, who is the MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow, estimates her plan to reduce the gap between rich and poor will cost an additional $628 million a year.

That may seem like a lot, but reducing poverty is in the best interests of all Saskatchewan people, Higgins said."

Making Saskatchewan a Green Economy Leader - Lingenfelter Policy Statement

2009-04-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

Making Saskatchewan a Green Economy Leader
April 3rd, 2009
A Policy Statement by Dwain Lingenfelter

For too long, politicians and political parties have talked about balancing environmental sustainability and economic progress as if one could only be advanced at the expense of the other. This is a false trade-off. I am convinced now more than ever that environmental leadership equals economic leadership.

Due to the vision of successive CCF-NDP governments, Saskatchewan has long been acknowledged as a Canadian public policy leader in areas such as Medicare and Crown Corporations. Unfortunately, with per capita greenhouse gas emissions that are three times higher than the Canadian average and the highest of any Canadian province, we are not fulfilling our responsibility to protect our environment and show public policy leadership in embracing the green economy. I believe it doesn’t have to be this way. I believe there are public policy solutions that can make Saskatchewan a green economy leader.

In 2007, the NDP government moved to remedy this situation by introducing a comprehensive plan to secure our long-term economic prosperity through the setting of aggressive targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. While the Sask Party committed to adhere to these targets during the last provincial election campaign, the Wall government scrapped the NDP’s climate change plan, and then refused to release a plan of its own. In a recent report, the David Suzuki Foundation congratulated the NDP for having put in place a “reasonably ambitious target for greenhouse gas emissions” but slammed the Sask Party for adopting the NDP’s target with “no plan or strategy to get there.”

Elsewhere too, the Wall government is moving our province backward on the environment. Brad Wall:
- Abolished the NDP’s $320 million Green Future Fund that provided funding for projects to fight climate change
- Eliminated the Saskatchewan Office of Energy Conservation
- Scrapped the Climate Change Secretariat
- Gutted renewable energy programs
- Bought his Cabinet Ministers brand new, gas-guzzling SUVs

Brad Wall’s Minister of the Environment has mused about not only backing away from the NDP government’s targets, but adopting targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases that are even “less stringent” than the extremely minimal targets set by the Harper government.

Due to Brad Wall’s lack of leadership, Saskatchewan will fail to meet the NDP government’s target of stabilizing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2010, and we will waste valuable time as other jurisdictions work to build their green economies and create green jobs.
..... Read more ............

'Gender Parity within the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party' - Lingenfelter Policy Statement

2009-04-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

Dwain Lingenfelter released a policy statement today on the issue of gender parity in the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party.

"In both 2003 and 2007, Saskatchewan New Democrats offered a smaller percentage of women candidates for election than either of the other two main parties – slightly more than 20%. That is unacceptable in the 21st century. We simply must do better. When women are underrepresented in the Saskatchewan Legislature, public policy suffers, because it is less likely to adequately address issues of importance to the women who constitute 50.9% of Saskatchewan’s population.

Not only is gender parity the right thing to do from a public policy perspective, it is critical to the New Democratic Party’s chances of defeating the right-wing Wall Government. A balanced team of strong and capable women and men as our candidates in 2011 will have the ability to mobilize greater support for a progressive agenda.

In a 2004 survey conducted by the Centre for Research and Information on Canada, 90 per cent of Canadians said they wanted more women elected to all levels of government. Statistics show that when it comes to elections, female candidates fare just as well as male candidates. Voters are just as likely to cast their ballot for a female as they are a male. It appears that the only reason more women are not being elected is that there aren’t enough women on the ballot. Since political parties are essentially the gatekeepers, determining who becomes a candidate through the nomination process, parties must play a more positive role in changing these circumstances.

I believe there are certain steps we should take as a Party toward achieving a more representative group of nominated candidates and people in our key leadership positions.

As Leader, I would propose to establish a Women’s Commission responsible for helping me to recruit, train and mentor women interested in seeking leadership positions within our Party, whether on constituency executives, the Provincial Executive or as candidates for nomination. I would propose to ask current and former female MLAs to join with representatives of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Women amongst others, to serve on this new body.

I would also propose an Annual Conference, facilitated by the Women’s Commission, which would bring together women from across the province to network, share knowledge and experience, team build and develop new expertise with respect to leadership and campaigning skills.

In the year following the leadership convention, I would propose to launch a special Fundraising Campaign for the Party to help finance the creation of the Women’s Commission and to help fund its work at a high level.

I continue to encourage women to consider running for our Party in the next election. These women include leaders in the business community and the trade union movement. They include key people in a variety of community organizations and the co-operative sector, as well as the professions. This work cannot begin too early, as all potential candidates need time to consider this important step, arrange their lives so they can run for nomination and, if successful, spend the time needed to campaign in their ridings to win.

I believe each of these steps will encourage more women to be willing to let their names stand for nomination as candidates for our Party in the 2011 provincial election. However, the campaign for gender parity should not be limited to our nominated candidates alone. We should work as a Party to encourage gender parity at all levels of our activities.

As I have travelled the province during this campaign, I have met many strong and capable women and have urged them to take up leadership positions on our constituency association executives and other important positions within our Party. I have set a goal of achieving gender parity on the Provincial Executive as soon as the June Convention. I also believe there needs to be gender parity on all major Party Committees as soon as possible thereafter.

While accomplishing gender parity throughout our Party will be a team effort, I understand that the example begins with the Leader. It is the job of the Leader to create an environment that encourages Party members to search for and support skilled and talented women in their campaigns for leadership roles within our movement. That’s why many of the key positions on my campaign team are held by women, including my Campaign Co-Chair and my Assistant Campaign Manager.

Throughout my province-wide tour I’ve stressed the need for our Party to present a candidate team that is much more representative of our population than was the case in either the 2003 or 2007 Provincial Elections. This is of great importance to the future of our Party and our province. I’m confident that if we act to achieve gender balance in politics, and lead by example, we will achieve gender parity not only within our Party but also within the Legislature in the near future.
Policy Statement

Saskatchewan Party Attempts Mischief 'Motion' In The Legislature ... (they aren't quite as smart as they think they are)!

2009-04-01T15:45:00.000-07:00

Jeremy Harrison, (defeated Conservative MP and currently the Saskatchewan Party MLA for Meadow Lake), is attempting to cause some mischief with the following Private Member's Motion which will be debated and voted upon in the Saskatchewan Legislature on April 2, 2009:

MOVED:
That the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan supports the consideration of further value-added development of Saskatchewan ’s uranium industry including nuclear power generation and recognizes the potential benefits to the growth and prosperity of the people of our province.

The intent of the Saskies, by bringing forward this motion, is to try and create some division or sparks in the New Democratic leadership race. All candidates are aware of the Sask Party's thinly veiled intent. The New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan has pragmatically dealt with the nuclear/uranium issue during the government terms of Premier Blakeney, Premier Romanow and Premier Calvert. The party is not about to fall apart over the issue at this time.

Jeremy Harrison is the Sask Party designated 'mischief maker' but he is generally not very articulate on weighty issues.

New Democratic candidates are all anxious and willing to debate the nuclear question or any other issue that the province faces. In fact, the Caucus has some very clear and pointed questions that the Wall crew needs to answer!

CBC Saskatchewan has more ...

Ryan Meili Calls On NDP Caucus To Vote 'NO' To Sask Party Motion

2009-03-31T08:10:00.000-07:00

NEWS RELEASE
March 31, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nuclear Power: Not a Viable Solution
Ryan Meili calls of NDP MLAs to oppose SaskParty nuclear resolution

On Thursday, the Saskatchewan Legislature will debate a motion by Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison supporting the development of nuclear generation in Saskatchewan. NDP leadership candidate Ryan Meili has issued the following statement.

The Wall government’s uranium resolution falsely frames the debate on nuclear energy and uranium development.

Nuclear power is not a viable solution to Saskatchewan’s energy needs. It is too expensive. It is too risky. It is too slow.

I am calling on all 20 New Democratic Party MLAs to vote “no” on this misleading motion.

Nuclear power is being sold to us as a means to provide cheap energy, as a means of addressing immediate energy needs, even as a means of protecting our environment.
But none of these sales pitches are based on the facts.

• Nuclear power isn’t cheap. A nuclear reactor is a very expensive undertaking and the people of Saskatchewan will pay for it on their electricity bills for a long time to come, if it is allowed to be built. We pay 10 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity now. Whether its Bruce Power or SaskPower, no one will build a nuclear reactor in Saskatchewan for less than 20 cents per kilowatt hour – double the current price of electricity. That simple fact is why most private sector utilities in the United States have been avoiding nuclear power – they know there are too many hidden costs and that most nuclear power construction projects have huge cost over-runs. Add to that expensive repair bills, the high cost of disposing of radioactive nuclear fuel waste and the very high cost of decommissioning a radioactive reactor core. When compared to wind power at 11 cents per kilowatt hour and electricity conservation at less than 6 cents per kilowatt hour, nuclear power’s economics make no sense.

• Nuclear power puts our environment at risk. Yes, nuclear power can reduce the carbon footprint. But that assumed you ignore the massive carbon emissions involved in building the reactor – particularly if it is built in a remote area. A nuclear reactor will also produce intensely radioactive waste materials which no country on earth has successfully disposed of. Why should the next generation of Saskatchewan residents bear the burden of disposing of this radioactive waste material, with the worry that it must be kept out of ground water supplies for tens of thousands of years into the future.

• Nuclear power doesn’t address our immediate energy needs. Nuclear reactors are not designed and built quickly. Sites are not chosen quickly. Even if the process started today, it would be nearly 20 years before a proposed nuclear facility contributed a single watt to the energy grid.
• Nuclear power doesn’t address our long-term energy needs either. It is simply another non-renewable resource which, by current projections, will have exhausted itself well within a century and possibly within a generation.

The Wall government has appointed a committee to investigate the possibilities of nuclear power in Saskatchewan. As the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran bishops in Saskatchewan recently pointed out, this committee is not a balanced group of open-minded citizens. It is a committee hand-picked to give Premier Wall the answer he wants.

Many of us will remember countless expert panels on this issue over the years. My fellow leadership candidate Dwain Lingenfelter has proposed a panel of his own to study this issue. Many progressive activists have become quite cynical about these “studies / panels / commissions.” Too often, their final recommendations have appeared to be predetermined. That is certainly so in this case. It is likely to be the case regardless of who appoints the panel.

Nuclear power, on the evidence, is too expensive, too risky and which meets neither our short term nor our long term energy needs.

A far better approach – both more principled and more pragmatic – is to pursue real alternative and renewable energy sources: solar, wind, biomass, geothermal. Pursuing these in concert with well considered and effectively supported energy conservation initiatives will be far more effective in meeting our immediate and long term energy needs at less expense and with less risk.

We need to consider our energy future. Limiting that consideration to an either-or discussion of nuclear power narrows the debate and ignores our best options.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Malcolm French
(306) 550-2277

The text of Mr. Harrison’s motion is as follows:
That the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan supports the consideration of further value-added development of Saskatchewan’s uranium industry including nuclear power generation and recognizes the potential benefits to the growth and prosperity of the people of our province.

"Do We Need Nuclear"? - Yens Pedersen

2009-03-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

We are confronted now with Sask Party/Bruce Power deal cooked up behind closed doors to build a nuclear reactor in the northwest part of Saskatchewan’s grain belt. They want to develop “Saskatchewan based opportunities for value added development of our uranium industry.”

Why do we need nuclear power?

Why would we go with the most dangerous, most complex and one of the most expensive options, when we have safer, simpler and cheaper options available? I am not opposed to new technology, but I do insist that there be clear benefits to embracing new technology which outweigh the costs. In all the research that I have done over the last year (which is a lot), it is clear to me that the costs associated with proven nuclear technology outweigh the benefits. The benefits are:
-a tremendous ability to produce energy from a relatively small amount of material (but the real issue is not the quantity of material, rather the energy return on energy expended),
-economic development, and
-a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The costs and risks are significant, including:

-the low (but still significant) risk of an enormous incident,
-the health costs of exposing a population to ongoing low level radiation (which we are just beginning to understand),
-the economic costs of building the reactor (no reactor has ever been built without taxpayer money),
-the economic costs of ’spinning reserves’ (backup power) equal to the size of the reactor required for NERC standards,
-the economic costs of building transmission lines (at $1.5 million/km),
-the economic costs of the costs of decommissioning (which are huge and will fall to the taxpayer),
-the risk of building a reactor which may not work (eg. Gentilly 1, the Maples) or which fails before the capital investment is recovered, and
-the economic costs of permanent waste storage (which hasn’t been proven or developed yet anywhere in the world).

You also have to compare the options that we have available - in which case you find that there is better economic development with renewable energy (wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass), more grid reliability with renewable energy, better greenhouse gas reductions with renewables, and less concern about the availability of water with renewables. Despite the protestations of dinosaurs stuck in old paradigms, other places in the world are showing that renewables like wind and solar can be integrated into the power grid in much greater proportions than we are currently doing. The best dollar spent is on conservation and efficiency which could reduce our electricity demand by at least 10%. We could easily expand our wind power production 9 fold.

There are always experimental projects and proposals for new nuclear technology, and while there may eventually be nuclear technology developed that overcomes these obstacles, given the health, safety and economic record of the nuclear industry I am not prepared to take a leap of faith and commit massive amounts of other people’s money to expanding the nuclear industry. I believe strongly that we can no longer develop technologies or resources without a sustainable solution for dealing with waste products. It is irresponsible for our generation and unconscionable to leave such waste products for the next generation — our children — to deal with.

Let me quote from a 1985 book titled “Forevermore: Nuclear Waste in America” by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele, at page 20:

No one knows how much there is. No one knows all the places where it is. And no one–despite all claims to the contrary–knows what to do with it. Not the government that encourages its production, not the industries that churn it out, not the scientists who created the processes that breed it. That is why radioactive waste in 1985 is held in “temporary” facilities, just as it was in 1945, just as it will be in 2005. Science, government, and industry have yet to devise the safe and permanent storage system they have promised for 30 years, one guaranteed to seal off the waste from people and the environment for as long as it will remain hazardous–forevermore.

You cannot see the radiation, or smell it, or taste it. But it is spreading across the American landscape. In 1950, waste from commercial use of the atom was counted in ounces, today, it is counted in tons.

Of far greater significance than weight is the curie content. The curie is used to measure radioactivity. In 1950, the curie level of this garbage was counted in the hundreds. Today, it is counted in the billions. At the end of 1984, waste kept in interim collection centers stood at 14.7 billion curies–enough to kill everyone in the United States.

The worst is yet to come. During the 1980s, businesses and institutions, but mostly electric utilities, will turn out twice as much waste–measured in terms of radioactivity– as they did in the three preceding decades combined.

Pedersen's Blog ....

Lingenfelter Response To SNDW

2009-03-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

March 11 2009

Response to Saskatchewan New Democratic Women

I'm pleased to provide the following responses to your two important questions about the future role of women in our movement:

-What steps will you take to ensure that women have greater participation in leadership positions at all levels within the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party?

While this job is a team effort, the example begins with the Leader. My own campaign team has women in key leadership positions, including Allison Nystrom serving as my Campaign Co-Chair, and Angie Fergusson serving as my Assistant Campaign Manager. Across the province, I have encouraged women to become involved in leadership roles on our constituency association executives, and to consider standing for election to Provincial Executive. My own goal is to have gender parity on the Provincial Executive as soon as the June Convention and gender parity on all major Party Committees as soon as possible thereafter.

I have also encouraged a number of women to consider running for our Party in the 2011 Provincial Election. This work cannot begin too early, as all potential candidates need time to consider this important step, arrange their lives so they can run for a nomination and, if successful, spend the time needed to campaign in their ridings to win.

It is the job of the Leader to set a tone, which encourages Party members to search for and support strong women in their campaigns for leadership roles within our movement. That's why everywhere I've gone in this campaign, I've talked about the need for our Party to present a candidate team that is much more representative of our population than was the case in either the 2003 or 2007 Provincial Elections. This means more women, First Nations and Métis, visible minority, farmer, and trade unionist candidates.

-What specific actions will you take to ensure the NDP meets its goal of having women make up 50 per cent of candidates in the 2011 election?

In both 2003 and 2007, Saskatchewan New Democrats offered a smaller percentage of women candidates for election than either of the other two main parties -- slightly more than 20%. In the 21st century that is unacceptable and we simply must do better to have any hope of winning in 2011.

I have already encouraged a number of women to consider running for our Party in the next election. These women include leaders in the business community and the trade union movement. They include key people in a variety of community organizations and the co-operative sector, as well as professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants.

As Leader, I would propose to establish a Women's Commission responsible for helping me to recruit, train and mentor women interested in seeking leadership positions within our Party, whether on constituency association executives, the Provincial Executive or as candidates for nomination. I would propose to ask current and former female MLAs to join with representatives of the SNDW amongst others, to serve on this new body.

The Women's Commission could also be responsible for planning an annual conference that would bring together women from across the province to network, share knowledge and experience, team build, and develop new expertise with respect to leadership and campaigning skills.

In the year following the leadership convention, I would propose to launch a special fundraising effort for the Party to help finance the creation of the Women's Commission and help fund its work at a high level.

Thank you for your efforts. I look forward to working with the SNDW in the months ahead.

Dwain Lingenfelter
Candidate for Leadership

Yens Pedersen Response: 'Encouraging Women'

2009-03-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

Encouraging women
March 23rd, 2009 by Yens

The SNDW posed 2 questions to all the leadership candidates:

1. What steps will you take to ensure that women have greater participation in leadership positions at all levels within the Saskatchewan NDP?
2. What specific actions will you take to ensure the NDP meets its goal of having women make up 50 per cent of candidates in the 2011 election?

My combined response follows: I am committed to 50% of our candidates in the 2011 election being women. I publicly stated my commitment to this target when I declared my candidacy and I continue to state the importance of an inclusive, welcoming and representative party. By continually referring to the importance of the issue, I hope to build member support for choosing more women and minority candidates and leaders. Increasing the number of women who hold leadership positions at all levels of the party increases the visibility and acceptance of women as political leaders, and also increases the pool of women to run as potential candidates.

While campaigning for president, I encouraged a number of women who were also interested in party renewal to run for executive positions. As president, I suggested to a few women (including an aboriginal woman), that they should consider running for leadership positions.

The importance of having people in leadership positions actively encouraging individual women (or for that matter anyone) to run cannot be stressed enough.

I will continue to encourage women to seek leadership positions. I will be supportive and encouraging to parents who bring children to meetings. Children are vital to the continual renewal of our party. The party should provide the option of care for children (or other dependents) at all functions, and I believe that the party should budget an amount every year to ensure there are funds available for this purpose. In doing so, we demonstrate our commitment to establishing universal childcare and supporting families. The Bessie Ellis Fund which provides a small amount of financial assistance for women seeking nominations is a good idea, but needs to be better publicized. Nominations should be advertised well in advance, so that it is not up to a few insiders to find potential candidates and so that more than just a few insiders know of openings. I believe this will result in more qualified candidates, both women and men. I will advocate these actions with the provincial executive.

We also need to elect more women - not just nominate them. If we are to achieve this goal, an obvious place to begin is in our strongest seats. As leader, one of my first actions will be to privately discuss with our MLAs their plans for the next election. If any MLA is overdue for retirement, I will not hesitate to pointedly (but respectfully) encourage him/her to move on. All organizations need to continually renew their leadership.

We should not expect women to have to act like men to become part of the government – instead we should expect that government may change by having more women involved. As leader I will not tolerate disrespectful behaviour in the legislature which diminishes the public’s regard for the institution of government. I do not know if it is a disincentive for women, but regardless, I believe that if we want the public to take politicians seriously and with respect, the politicians must conduct themselves accordingly.

SNDW Poses Two Questions To Leadership Candidates

2009-03-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

The Saskatchewan New Democratic Women have posed two questions to each of the four leadership candidates:

1. What steps will you take to ensure that women have greater participation in leadership positions at all levels within the Saskatchewan NDP?

2. What specific actions will you take to ensure the NDP meets its goal of having women make up 50 per cent of candidates in the 2011 election?

I will publish their responses as they are made public.

'ActUpInSask' Leadership Poll

2009-03-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

The ActUpInSask Website is conducting an informal poll on the current NDP Leadership race.

To date, 6049 people have cast a vote for their favourite candidate. This is NOT a scientific poll by any means, but the results are interesting none the less:

Dwain Lingenfelter 3653 (60.4%)
Yens Pederson 1824 (30.2%)
Ryan Meili 532 (8.8%)
Deb Higgins 22 (0.4%)
Don't care 17 (0.3%)

Andrew Thomson Wades In ....

2009-03-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

Former NDP Finance Minister, Andrew Thomson now lives and works in Ontario. He has thrown his support to Deb Higgins, his former caucus colleague. At one time it was thought that Thomson would seek the leadership himself.

-Regina Leader Post

-NewsTalkRadio .... (sorry about that folks .... NewsTalk is not a real news broadcaster, they are a right wing mouth piece for the Saskatchewan Party AND for Stephen Harper's Conservatives)

Lingenfelter Wants Northern Saskatchewan To Have Leadership Forum

2009-03-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

"NDP Leadership Candidate, Dwain Lingenfelter, today expressed concern that the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party has decided to ignore the Far North in its series of Leadership Candidate Public Forums next month, and says he has decided to organize his own public forum in the region and invite the other leadership candidates to take part.

“There are more than 15-thousand eligible voters in the two Far Northern constituencies of Athabasca and Cumberland, and these people have traditionally been strong supporters of the New Democratic Party. The Party should not be ignoring the needs of this important region. The issue is not only how many people might attend such a forum in person, but how many people across the Far North will be able to hear these debates through their northern broadcasters,” Lingenfelter added."
Lingenfelter News Release

Candidates Speak Out On Sask Party Budget

2009-03-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

My friend, The Jurist, who blogs at Accidental Deliberations has a timely post on the Saskatchewan Provincial Budget:

"Yesterday's provincial budget would seem to have provided an ideal opportunity for the NDP's leadership contestants to stake out their territory. So it's interesting to note that only two of them seem to have made statements that got picked up by the media in the budget's aftermath." ... MORE ...

Candidates Regional Forums Announced

2009-03-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

Regional Leadership Forums will be held around Saskatchewan with the four declared candidates.

Yens Pedersen Takes On John Conway's Historical Revisionism

2009-03-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

John Conway's article, “It’s Just Too Late”, published in the Februarty 26th issue of Regina's Prairie Dog would be funny if it was't so completely out to lunch! Lamenting the fact that the CCF / NDP "died with the 1952 election" Conway bemoans the fact that Tommy Douglas, Woodrow Lloyd, Allan Blakeney, Row Romanow and Lorne Calvert basically did nothing to improve the collective social well being of Saskatchewan citizens.

New Democratic Party governments of Saskatchewan have faced immense odds since 1952, advancing both social and economic reforms and initiatives. While Conway whines his way through his exceedingly long and wordy article, he finally bemoans the fact that Pat Atkinson is not seeking the leadership. (Unfortunately, because the 'Prairie Dog' is not online, I can't provide a link to Conway's article).

From the current ranks of the candidates for leadership, Yens Pedersen has a blog entry on his site that takes John Conway's nonsensical arguments to task.

In his response, Pedersen writes, "So the real question is not whether the NDP can be ‘prettified’ (Conway’s word) – the real question is whether the people who want social and economic justice will actually get off their moral high ground and dirty their hands in the political process. I concede it is easier to throw up your hands in despair and walk away. It is much harder to work with people, to find common ground and to reach compromises. That requires being reasonable. Conway might call that being moderate, but I take it as a compliment.

The NDP is the only party in Saskatchewan at this time with the desire and ability to accomplish the goals I have identified. So this spring, rather than just complaining from the sidelines I’ll be more than voting – I’m in the race. And my heart and hope are in it."

Words of advice that John Conway should heed! Rather than sniping from the sidelines, wallowing in his imagined pre-1952 'good old days' .. maybe he should get off his couch ... and actually DO something for the people of Saskatchewan!

Lingenfelter Releases Nuclear Power Policy Proposal

2009-03-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

Failing the People — The Wall Government and Nuclear Power
A Policy Proposal by Dwain Lingenfelter

"For nearly fifty years, the policy of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the New Democratic Party has been to support the mining of Saskatchewan uranium and the export of that uranium to other jurisdictions around the world to be used for nuclear power generation. I support that policy. A few years ago the Calvert government decided that it would pursue opportunities for value-added refining of uranium within our province, and I support that decision as well.

Today thirty one countries around the world use nuclear energy to generate electricity, many using uranium mined in Saskatchewan. Many highly developed countries such as France (75%), Finland (27%), The United Kingdom (20%), and Japan (27.5%) rely heavily on nuclear energy to generate power.

I make these points to emphasize that neither I nor the New Democratic Party enter the debate about our energy future with a closed mind toward nuclear power or any other potential energy source. It is clear to me that Saskatchewan will need a renewed commitment to energy conservation and a mix of both renewable and conventional energy sources to meet our energy needs in the immediate future. Even the European Union, whose member countries are global leaders in the area of renewable energy, envision producing only 20% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Therefore, while renewable energy options such as solar, wind, geo-thermal, and biomass are an important part of Saskatchewan’s future energy plans, some conventional generation of electricity will remain necessary for the foreseeable future.

However, I do not support the construction of a nuclear reactor to generate power within Saskatchewan’s borders unless a public, transparent study has been conducted by a blue ribbon panel of independent experts, showing the people of Saskatchewan that such a project could be sustainable, from both the financial and environmental perspective. This blue ribbon panel would hold public hearings around the province so that every citizen could have their say on the future of electrical generation in Saskatchewan. The panel would explore the costs and benefits of nuclear power compared to both renewable energy options and conventional electrical generation sources such as coal, natural gas and hydro. The energy options we choose for the next twenty years will impact everything from our provincial finances to our economic growth, from our population’s health to our quality of life. These decisions cannot be made without full, public input and understanding.

The Wall government has refused to let the people of Saskatchewan help plan their own energy future. It has stumbled and bumbled into a flawed process that clearly favours a single new energy source, provided by a single, private sector player, while freezing out the people of Saskatchewan.

Much of the Wall government’s information about the nuclear power option has been based on a feasibility study commissioned by the very company that proposes to build the nuclear power plant. This is a little like commissioning General Motors to ask if you really need to buy a new car.

The Wall government’s special committee reviewing the nuclear option, the $3 Million Uranium Development Partnership, has conducted its work behind closed doors, is dominated by nuclear proponents and has a limited mandate by the government’s own admission to “make recommendations on Saskatchewan-based value-added opportunities in the uranium industry”. Where is the comprehensive, even-handed, public review of all the energy options available to the people of Saskatchewan?

Meanwhile, the Wall government is negotiating in private with a single private sector company (Bruce Power) about the potential for a Saskatchewan-based nuclear reactor. How can we trust the Wall government to negotiate such a complex agreement on our behalf, when this same government mishandled the annual purchase of natural gas supplies for SaskEnergy customers this winter, requiring us all to pay $55 Million more than necessary for natural gas?

Even worse, the power company owned by the people of the province, SaskPower, has been reduced to an observer’s role in these closed-door discussions. Meanwhile, Bruce Power has been running extensive advertising in favour of nuclear power throughout Northwestern Saskatchewan, where they say they would like to locate a nuclear power reactor. In the Lloydminster area, local farmers have been visited by Land Agents working on behalf of Bruce Power. These agents are attempting to take out options on land in the area, while trying to swear local landowners to secrecy. Why would this type of activity be underway if the Wall government truly intended to have a public, comprehensive review of all the energy options open to Saskatchewan people?

As the Bishops of the Anglican, Evangelical Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Catholic Churches in Saskatchewan said in a joint statement recently: “It is critical that any recommendations be made only after full and open consultation with the people of this province.”

This is just one more reason why Saskatchewan people want public hearings, full transparency and widespread public involvement, before any deals or Letters of Understanding are signed with any potential supplier of new power generation.

I see much more support across the province for additional conservation measures before any new power generation is decided upon. While we have made strides in this area in recent years, there is much more that can and should be done. I also see growing support for building renewable power generation (wind, solar, geo-thermal and biomass) in Saskatchewan communities, perhaps producing up to 10 megawatts of power each, and selling their excess generation to SaskPower. If the provincial government supported renewable power generation of this size in 30 communities across the province, we would reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for power generation, empower local communities to build a greener future, and still provide SaskPower with the additional generating capacity needed to serve our growing economy over the next few years.

The Wall government is failing the people of Saskatchewan by refusing to have a comprehensive, public review of our future energy needs. Energy decisions are too important for politicians alone. We must find ways to involve all the people of the province in making these decisions."
Dwain Lingenfelter Website

Standing on the shoulders of giants #1

2009-03-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Saskatchewan New Democrats are well aware of our traditions and legacy. Our electoral success in Saskatchewan has happened because we stand on the shoulders of giants!

Saskatchewan New Democrats Congratulate Andrea Horwath - New Leader of the Ontario NDP!

2009-03-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

Andrea Horwath, MPP for Hamilton Centre, is the new leader of the Ontario NDP.

Ontario New Democrats Site

Pedersen Unveils Platform

2009-03-06T10:40:00.001-08:00

Yens Pedersen unveiled details of his leadership campaign this morning at a news conference in Saskatoon. Details are included here.

PLATFORM HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Renewable Energy Strategy for Saskatchewan
* Amalgamation of SaskPower/SaskEnergy
* Control of our natural gas supply
* Expanded wind power
* Expanded hydropower
* Conservation & efficiency program
* Energy buy back

2. Universal childcare
* Paid for by non-renewable resource revenue

3. Education Tax
* All education (except land and buildings) to be funded by non-renewable resource revenue

4. Comprehensive Health Strategy
* 7AM to 10PM diagnostic services six days a week
* More efficient streamlined system with eliminating health boards and reducing overtime
* Recognition of socioeconomic determinants of health
* New approach to primary care (video diagnostics to rural health care centers)
* School dental and nutrition program
* Asbestos ban

5. Rural & Northern
* Commitment to providing core services (health, education, transportation, communication)
* Economic development based on sustainable energy, childcare, small business, and tourism

6. Local Government
* Should local service delivery be determined locally?

7. Disabilities
* Guaranteed annual income for people with disabilities

-NDP candidate Pedersen unveils platform - Regina Leader-Post
-Child care tops Pedersen's platform - Regina Leader-Post

Sask NDP Leadership Race - PROFILE - Deb Higgins

2009-03-06T08:14:00.001-08:00

Moose Jaw MLA Deb Higgins has announced she will seek the leadership of the New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan. “People have asked me why I want to be leader. Simply put, I want to continue my commitment to the NDP and our great province by taking on this important role and I know I am up for the job,” she said.

Higgins said New Democrats have a lot of work ahead of them, to reconnect with members and reach out to future members.

"We need to make sure we are listening to all Saskatchewan people and we need to find new solutions to old and future problems. I believe my experience, my passion and my true commitment to the NDP will allow me to work with all New Democrats in order to move our party, and our province forward.”

“These are interesting times in Saskatchewan,” said Higgins. “We have a newly-elected government who told us that the best times were yet to come. In reality, we’ve seen layoffs, soaring costs of living, a lack of child care and dwindling pensions. And we’ve seen a government that is either too arrogant or too misguided to care.

"Saskatchewan families deserve better. New Democrats, under my leadership, can and will do better. In 2011 we can and will defeat Brad Wall, not only for New Democrats, but for all Saskatchewan people.”

Deb and her husband Don have lived in the Moose Jaw Wakamow constituency all their lives, where they have raised their two daughters, worked and enjoyed participating in many community activities.

Deb started working at the Canada Safeway in 1979 and became involved with the United Food & Commercial Workers union in 1982. Deb served as the President of the UFCW Council from 1993 to 1999 and was a table officer for the Moose Jaw & District Labour Council during that same period.

Deb Higgins was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in 1999 representing Moose Jaw Wakamow. She was re-elected in 2003 and 2007. In the previous NDP government, she served as Minister of Labour and Learning. In the Saskatchewan NDP Caucus, she currently serves as Municipal Affairs, Liquour and Gaming and Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation critics.

Deb Higgins Leadership Site
Deb's Facebook Page

Sask NDP Leadership Race - PROFILE - Ryan Meili

2009-03-06T07:57:00.001-08:00

Ryan Meili is the third candidate to throw his hat into the Saskatchewan New Democratic leadership race. The following bio is taken from his leadership site:

"Ryan Meili is a family doctor and community organizer; for years, he has been working to build healthier communities in Saskatchewan. Currently employed as a rural relief locum, Ryan’s job as a family doctor takes him all over the province to give doctors in small communities some much-needed and well-deserved time off. When not on the road he lives in Saskatoon’s core community of Riversdale.

Ryan also works for the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. As the chair of the Social Accountability Committee, he’s responsible for helping ensure that Saskatchewan’s future doctors are equipped to meet the health needs of the diverse communities they will serve. Among Ryan’s focuses are aboriginal, international, rural, and inner-city health.

Ryan is perhaps best known for his role as a co-founder of SWITCH, the Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health. Ryan helped spearhead this student-run, interdisciplinary, inner-city clinic, whose mandate is to bring students from nursing, medicine, social work, physiotherapy, pharmacy, nutrition, and numerous other disciplines together to serve the residents of Saskatoon’s core communities. Ryan was also the clinic’s first coordinator, and continues to work there as a supervising doctor.

Ryan also runs the College of Medicine’s Making The Links program. This program gives medical students the opportunity to work in Northern Saskatchewan (Ile a-la-Crosse and Buffalo River Dene Nation), in the SWITCH clinic in Saskatoon, and in the rural communities of Mozambique in South-East Africa. One of the program’s goals is for students to gain firsthand knowledge of the social factors influencing health by living among and working with diverse peoples."
Ryan Meili Site

-Ryan's Blog

Sask NDP Leadership Race - PROFILE - Yens Pedersen

2009-03-06T07:56:00.001-08:00

Yens Pedersen was elected President of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party in 2008. Currently practicing law in Regina, Yens was raised on a small family farm near Cut Knife, Saskatchewan. His involvement in the community is a shining example of putting your beliefs into practice. Yens sits on the Salvation Army Advisory Board for Regina, the council for St. Mark's Lutheran Church, and the playground committee at his daughter's school. He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, presently serving as the chair of the Taxation section in Regina and previously served as co-chair of the Young Lawyers section. Yens is the president of the Regina Business Association, and is also an active member of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors and the Regina Estate Planning Council. He has coached his daughter's soccer team and has served on the board of directors for Saskatchewan Express, a provincial musical theatre group, and for The Royal Lifesaving Society (Saskatchewan Branch). Yens has been a fundraiser for the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, the MS Society, the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Canadian Diabetes Association.

On government policy, Pedersen is articulate on a number of issues:
"I think our goal for the future should be making Saskatchewan a sustainable energy leader in the world - both in terms of production, consumption and research. This would include research and regulation to make fossil fuel production and consumption more sustainable, research and investment into renewables, research and investment into conservation and efficiency. It would also require investment into training in these fields.

We need an energy policy and plan for two big and relatively urgent reasons: supply and GHG emissions. We're going to continue to have wild price swings on fossil fuels, and we only have another 8 years globally to start to make some serious headway on GHF if we want to avoid the worst of the predictions. This will affect (or should affect) every level of government decision making.

Cheap and reliable energy is fundamental to economic success, so we'd better get a strategy in place."
Yens Pedersen

Pedersen's campaign slogan is 'New Voice. New Vision.' He certainly brings both to the leadership campaign.

During the 2007 Provincial Election, he ran in Regina South constituency. Pedersen was nominated a mere 2 weeks before election day and lost by only about 200 votes - an amazing performance so late in the campaign .

-Yens Pedersen - 'New Voice. New Vision. New Democrat.'
-Yen's Facebook Page
Yen's Response To John Conway

Sask NDP Leadership Race - PROFILE - Dwain Lingenfelter

2009-03-06T07:54:00.000-08:00

DWAIN LINGENFELTER
The first candidate into the race for leadership of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party is Dwain Lingenfelter. A former Deputy Premier of Saskatchewan during the Roy Romanow administration, Lingenfelter also served as a cabinet Minister in the government of Premier Allan Blakeney.

Dwain was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1978 as MLA for the rural constituency of Shaunavon. During his first term, Premier Allan Blakeney appointed him to serve as Minister of Social Services.

While in opposition during the Grant Devine era, Dwain served as Opposition House Leader. Upon taking government in 1991, he served in Roy Romanow's Cabinet responsible for economic development. In 1995, he was appointed by Premier Roy Romanow as the Deputy Premier of the Province of Saskatchewan and the Minister Responsible for Crown Corporations. Romanow later appointed him as Minister of Agriculture and Food and as Government House Leader.

In July 2000 he announced that he was leaving provincial politics to explore opportunities in the private sector. He became Vice President of Government Relations for Calgary-based energy company Nexen Inc. on September 1, 2000. He contines to operates his family farm near Shaunavon.

Dwain is the clear front runner in the leadership campaign as a result of his experience and knowledge of both the province of Saskatchewan and the operation of government.

-'Lingenfelter For Leader' Homepage
-Dwain's Facebook Page

News From the Lingenfelter Campaign

They're Off And Running!

2009-03-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

The resignation of Lorne Calvert as leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party has triggered a campaign for leader that will conclude in June 2009.

I am going to dedicate this blogsite to issues, news and opinions from the campaign.

Right wing extremism is not tolerated well here. Abusive or libelous comments will be deleted.