Saskatchewan’s Opposition NDP is touting its ‘prairie pragmatism,’ as Scott Moe announced he would officially start the campaign on Tuesday
Saskatchewan’s Opposition NDP is touting its economic proposals on the eve of Tuesday’s expected election call, promising to ease the burden on taxpayers if elected.
“Here is the thing: we do not have a revenue problem in Saskatchewan; we have a management problem,” party leader Carla Beck said in prepared remarks to the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce last week.
“This government has jacked up taxes and fees, but where has the money gone?”
Saskatchewan NDP campaign director Cheryl Oates told the National Post that the party’s taxpayer-friendly platform reflects Beck’s collaborative style of leadership.
“(Beck) has been listening to people and putting forth solutions that are not just based in ideology,” Oates said in an interview.
Oates, who previously served as an adviser to then Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, noted that provincial New Democrat parties in the Prairies have tended to be practical rather than ideological.
“The approach of (the NDP) in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba is very pragmatic,” said Oates.
Shannon Phillips, an ex-Alberta NDP MLA and strategist, said that prairie pragmatism could be a winning formula for federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
“It’s not at all clear to me why the path that’s now resonating (with voters) in Western Canada can’t resonate with the rest of the country,” Phillips said on Monday.
Phillips added that Singh has the advantage of talking about affordability “from a New Democrat lens that guards against cuts to public services.”
Moe, first elected in 2011, has been premier since 2018 and led the Saskatchewan Party to a fourth consecutive majority in 2020.
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here.