By Katie Ryan
Until the 2011 provincial election, Dwain Lingenfelter will be clocking miles to cultivate support. The leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party visited the Border City on Tuesday to not only attend Husky Energy’s sod turning ceremony, but to also talk with local media and more importantly, constituents.
“I love this area. It epitomizes what Saskatchewan is all about and the strength of the province. Having worked in the energy sector for 10 years internationally, but in Saskatchewan and Alberta, this area is absolutely key to the economy of Saskatchewan – it’s one of the engines,” said Lingenfelter, during a visit to the Source’s office.
“This is certainly a target riding for us and we are going to be pushing and working very, very hard to win in 2011.”
The Regina Douglas Park MLA expressed high praise for local businesses and their innovation; from Husky Energy’s president and CEO, John Lau all the way through to the service industry.
“People like Bill Musgrave,” he explained, “the stable people who not only work hard every day but they take the money they make and plough it right back into the community. It’s a perfect example of how Saskatchewan should work.”
Having said that though, the former Deputy Premier was quick to point out that the $10 billion that taxpayers like Husky and Musgrave pay to the government are being handled by officials “who don’t understand a balance sheet.” According to Lingenfelter, the NDP does understand balance sheets and has the experience to do so.
“I think that is a strength that we bring, to bring the province back to that proud history of balanced budgets and managing our affairs the same as a company or family has to. I think that is missing right now,” he said, adding that he sees the “Grant Divine history” repeating itself with Premier Brad Wall’s “terrible mismanagement” of fiscal affairs.
“We had $2.3 billion in the bank and now in the last two years that money is all gone and we are $1 billion in debt/ deficit, so there is a lot of concern about that. I will be interested to hear what people have to say about these issues here.”
The state of Saskatchewan’s finances is just one of three key issues that Lingenfelter and his party are focussed on; health care and the cost of living in the province are of top priority as well for the NDP.
“In every community we’ve gone to, those issues have been raised as the main concerns,” he said. “The cost of power, which has gone up in this area almost 20 per cent in the last 14 months. For people on fixed income an increase of 20 per cent in your power rates is just too much. A lot of people are saying they can’t afford it.”
An issue of importance to the Lloydminster riding said Lingenfelter is the availability of housing and its role in hindering growth in the business sector.
“One of the restrictive factors on businesses expanding is being able to attract people in, to live in our communities, because of the lack of good, quality housing,” said the Opposition leader, who was accompanied by Prince Albert Northcote MLA, Darcy Furber, on his trip to Lloyd. “We are looking for ways and means with the government, Brad Wall should be pushed hard and encouraged to take up its responsibility and provide good, quality housing for working people and our seniors who don’t have an option at the present time.”
During the last election Grant Whitstone was the NDP contender, now however, the Lloydminster constituency is currently without a candidate. A candidate will be elected during a nomination convention to be held at some point in the next 10 months.
With the election inching closer, Lingenfelter said the party doesn’t take any vote for granted and has a lot of work to do – not only campaigning, but also establishing meaningful policies.
“I think most Saskatchewan people are very practical, they don’t love the Sask. Party and they don’t love the NDP, they want to know what the government is going to do to help their families. And they are very practical about that.”
Following Lingenfelter’s brief visit to Lloyd, he was back in the Legislature Wednesday for spring session, which he said is very active thanks to the attendance of residents from across the province.
“It’s very interactive with the public and I love it, it’s not about Sask. Party or NDP, it’s about the community versus the promises made by the government,” he said adding he will return to the Lloydminster riding every other month leading up to the election.