At some point in the next three weeks, the writ will be dropped and a provincial election will be called for Saskatchewan.
As of publication time, we have two candidates to choose from in the Estevan constituency: incumbent MLA Lori Carr for the Saskatchewan Party, and newcomer Linda Sopp for the Progressive Conservatives.
Over in Cannington, the only candidate thus far is the Sask. Party’s Daryl Harrison. Dan D’Autremont, the long-time Sask. Party MLA for Cannington, has announced he’ll be retiring at the end of this term.
The provincial and federal elections in southeast Saskatchewan have been short on suspense and long on margins of victory for most of the 21st century. In Souris-Moose Mountain in the last federal election, Robert Kitchen of the Conservative Party had nearly 85 per cent of the popular vote, in a riding that had the second-highest voter turnout of any constituency in the last election.
Shifting the attention back to provincial politics, since Doreen Eagles was elected as Estevan’s MLA in 1999 for the Sask. Party, the question entering the provincial elections hasn’t been whether the Sask. Party would win, it’s been about the margin of victory for the Sask. Party candidate, whether it be Eagles or Carr.
We’ve seen provincial elections in which there have been good candidates. Tim Seipp was a strong candidate for the Liberals in 2003 and 2007. David Pattyson worked hard for the New Democratic Party in 2003.
Even with the last provincial election, we saw Paul Carroll do far more than just the bare minimum for a candidate’s level of work for the Progressive Conservative Party, while Cameron Robock was working hard for the NDP until the party turfed his nomination.
And that’s what we want to see in this election: candidates should do more than the workload expected of them.
Obviously a candidate who opposes the Sask. Party is going to face long odds in Estevan or Cannington, or most other rural ridings in the province. It will be especially tough for a candidate who represents the NDP or the Green Party, given their stance on such issues as the future of coal mining and the carbon tax.
But if you’re going to represent a party on the ballot in this election, regardless of whether it’s the Sask. Party, the NDP, the Progressive Conservatives, the Greens, the Buffalo Party or the Liberals, then it’s up to you to do the work that one would expect of a candidate.
Don’t be a space filler. Don’t be a phantom, a token candidate or a candidate who becomes a punch line.
Don’t be like the Liberal candidate in Souris-Moose Mountain in the last federal election who did absolutely nothing, but still gets to put on his resumé that he represented a national party in a federal election.
Answer the phone calls. Participate in interviews with the media. Be part of the debates. Articulate your party’s platform with conviction. Meet people. Knock on doors. Get out into the different communities in your riding, regardless of whether it’s a city or a hamlet, and show people that if you are elected, you will be there for them.
That’s what a good candidate does.
And to the electorate: be classy and considerate. If a candidate comes to your door, show that person respect. They’re taking the time to talk to you. Don’t slam the door in their face immediately.
We’re pretty confident that Sopp will do her part in the Estevan riding as the Progressive Conservative candidate. She’s already had party leader Ken Grey in this riding. She’s not going to have a large amount of money to spend locally, but it appears she’ll do her best.
Hopefully the other candidates do the same, which will translate to a good election with good debates and some interesting discussion.
The people of this constituency, and every riding, in this province deserve good candidates.
