Within hours of being sworn in as premier, Scott Moe came to Melfort to launch Saskatchewan Party candidate Todd Goudy’s campaign.
Moe told the crowd in front of the campaign office in the Melfort Mall Feb. 2 the main issue of the March 1 byelection will be growth and avoiding items like the carbon tax that threaten the province’s competitiveness.
“People are concerned that we’re able to continue to grow our communities, grow our opportunities for that next generation,” Moe told the media after his speech. “I know I’ve talked to people in this community about just that.”
The premier said Saskatchewan wouldn’t have a carbon tax because it doesn’t work. Instead, he wants to focus on how sustainable the province’s products are compared to places like Algeria and Venezuela.
“When you compare how we produce our energy products, our manufactured goods, our agricultural products to other areas of the world, Saskatchewan should most certainly be recognized for the sustainable nature in which we produce those.”
“If we’re going to see a premier in this country that’s going to stand up for rural Saskatchewan, just watch him,” Goudy later added when he gave a speech.
Moe also told the audience that Goudy, as the candidate for the governing Sask. Party, needed to be elected to continue the same quality of representation provided by Rod Gantefoer and Kevin Phillips.
“We need Todd down there to have that very same representation to ensure that we’re able to continue to grow our economy here in the province of Saskatchewan.”
Moe said he realizes there will be local issues coming up during the campaign. One of those, the replacement of a wing of a seniors’ home in Watson, was brought up by Goudy when he won the nomination. The candidate and premier hadn’t had the chance to talk about that issue yet.
“Those are good conversations that we need to have and all the more reason we need Todd on the governing side, so he can represent the people on infrastructure needs and service needs that are relevant to the constituency,” Moe said.
The premier said coming to Melfort was the second thing he did as premier – the first was taking the chance to show his family his new office. He did so for two reasons: 1) Goudy’s campaign was able to organize an event in half a day and 2) it was on his way back home to Shellbrook.
Moe said it’s because Goudy had a strong relationship with Phillips and that he has the ability to fill a hall – along with three other people – for the nomination meeting, that he’d like to see him win the byelection.
“He has the values I have in many ways,” he said. “He treats people with great respect and for me that was really visible when I saw the relationship he had with my friend Kevin.”
As for Goudy, he was honoured that Moe visited on the first day of the campaign.
“This is great,” he told the media. “It just doesn’t happen, which just shows his heart, a down home country boy serving his province, checking out what going on in every constituency, not just his own. This is a real privilege.”
