SASK. PARTY HOPEFULS TALK
Would-be premiers answer questions
Do you support the current plan to produce a balanced budget by 2020 or would you like to see the plan extended to 2021 or beyond?
Tina Beaudry-Mellor: I would like to see it extended by a year to accommodate the approx. $140M needed to reinstate the PST exemption on insurance.
Ken Cheveldayoff: I am ... proud to have been the first candidate to sign the CTF’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge that commits a candidate to balancing the provincial budget in 2019, paying down the debt and holding the line on taxes.
Alanna Koch: I have pledged to extend the plan to balance the budget by one year. This will help minimize the effects of some of the restraint measures, and show compassion to those who have most felt the impact of the most recent budget.
Scott Moe: Yes, we support balancing the operational budget in 2019 while fully costing the PST exemption on life, health, crop and hail insurance.
Gord Wyant: I am committed to our government’s plan to return to balance by the 2019-20 budget.
Do you have a plan to reduce the current $20.9-billion public debt that, according to the 2017-18 budget, will increase to $24.6 billion by 2021?
TBM: We have the lowest debtto-GDP ratio in the country. That said, I would like to see us pay down the operational debt first.
KC: I will first balance the budget and then tackle the debt.
AK: I will look for efficiencies within government such as shared services models and back office consolidation to name a few to lower the public debt.
SM: Once we achieve balance we need to look at opportunities to smooth our annual natural resource income.
GW: As premier, I will be focused on eliminating the province’s operating debt, maintaining a low debt-to- GDP ratio (currently the second lowest in Canada), and ensuring our debt servicing costs remain low.
Would you institute a heritage/ sovereign wealth fund for future natural resource windfalls?
TBM: Absolutely.
KC: When the financial situation of the province improves, I will consider this idea.
AK: A heritage fund is an excellent idea, but we have debt and spending to tackle first.
SM: Answered above (in Moe’s answer to previous question).
GW: Yes. I support the work that was done by former University of Saskatchewan (president) Peter McKinnon. I do believe we need to pay down a substantial amount of the current operating debt given the differential between savings rates of interest and loan rates.
Do you support the current objective of a 3.5-per-cent public sector wage/remuneration rollback?
TBM: I support continued collective bargaining efforts. We cannot ignore compensation measures when we are trying to get back to balance and this is our single largest expenditure.
KC: Our government has stepped away from this objective and will look to achieve efficiencies through attrition and by other means. I support this.
AK: No.
SM: We respect the collective bargaining process and understand that the target will not be met this current year.
GW: I believe in the collective bargaining process and the responsibility of all parties to negotiate in good faith. I believe the goal of balancing the budget can be achieved without a rollback by looking at other efficiencies within government.
CROWN CORPORATIONS Would you consider the sale of specific Crown corporations if the money is used to reduce either public debt or general revenue operating debt?
TBM: No.
KC: We will continue to abide by the Crown Protection Act, the mandate of which is to provide a better quality of life for our residents.
AK: No.
SM: No.
GW: No. Our major crown corporations provide reliable services and offer good value in terms of low-cost utility delivery.
Is there any circumstance where you would consider selling government Crown operations?
TBM: I would like to get government out of the liquor retail business, a process which has already started.
KC: We will continue to abide by the Crown Protection Act, the mandate of which is to provide a better quality of life for our residents.
AK: I will keep the major Crowns public. I do expect our Crowns to operate as businesses and be citizen-focused.
SM: No.
GW: If there is an operation which isn’t core to government, and if it can be delivered more efficiently or effectively by the private sector, then we owe it to the people of this province to consider the option.
Do you support the concept of using Crown dividends to offset shortfalls in paying for general revenue fund programs?
TBM: Yes.
KC: Within this mandate, there are many uses of Crown Corporation dividends that can significantly improve the quality of life for all Saskatchewan residents.
AK: Crowns dividends help deliver services like education, health care and infrastructure.
SM: I do not view a Crown dividend to the people of Saskatchewan as “offsetting shortfalls.” This dividend may be utilized to fund infrastructure or the services provided to the people in communities across the province.
GW: Crowns are owned by the people of Saskatchewan and so dividends should be available to help pay for services ... The calculation of the amount of that dividend needs to be made based on sound financial criteria.
ELECTIONS Should Saskatchewan’s next electoral boundaries commission reduce the number of seats from the current 61?
TBM: Only if warranted in terms of population shifts.
KC: There are set criteria for the Boundary Commission laid out in legislation; the Commission should abide by these criteria.
AK: The number of seats should meet the needs and expectations of citizens.
SM: The governing party will discuss this as they do each decade that our boundaries are changed with the understanding that in Saskatchewan we have a growing population in a vast geography across the province.
GW: The next Constituency Boundaries Commission will conduct their work in 2022 and I would not pre-empt that work by suggesting an increase or reduction to the number of seats.
Should the distribution of seats reflect more equitable representation by population, even if that means fewer rural or northern seats?
TBM: I believe the seat distribution now is equitable.
KC: We believe in the tenets of the Boundary Commission legislation to ensure that the people of Saskatchewan are represented properly.
AK: The number of seats should ensure all citizens have equal and fair access to their elected representative.
SM: People across the province need to have the opportunity to be represented equally and have access to their representative.
GW: I believe the goal is always to create ridings that have approximately the same number of electors and at the same time, ensuring that the people of this province have reasonable access to their MLA.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Do you favour rural municipality amalgamation in a conceptually similar way to reducing governance for schools and hospitals?
TBM: I would prefer that RMs and school divisions and systems work co-operatively on their own.
KC: If rural municipalities choose to amalgamate, it would be because they wish to do so. It would not be forced by the Government.
AK: No, I support keeping governance at the local level for RMs and school boards.
SM: I have not heard support for RM amalgamation and do not support forced amalgamation of our Rural Municipalities.
GW: No, but I am supportive of neighbouring municipalities (both rural and urban) looking at shared services.
JUSTICE Do you favour the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities’ resolution for relaxed laws pertaining to the defence of rural properties?
TBM: No.
KC: It is my belief that people should not take the law into their own hands. Part of the solution is my campaign promise to improve rural internet services. This connectivity will result in improved response time to situations of residents in need.
AK: No, but I recognize the issue in rural Saskatchewan and support the rural crime initiative pilot project to address crime and create safer communities.
SM: We need to continue to work with rural residents and their representative at SARM to ensure we can continue to address this issue that is of increasing importance.
GW: No. I have however proposed as part of our Rural Crime Strategy a comprehensive review aimed at modernizing all relevant legislation and clarifying the rights and responsibilities of all parties regarding private land use.
What do you believe is the correct age for legal marijuana possession in Saskatchewan?
TBM: It should be tied to the drinking age, which is currently 19.
KC: Twenty-five years. This is the age at which the medical association has stated that the brain is fully developed.
AK: 19.
SM: This will be a decision that will be made after a fulsome discussion with caucus representing the views of their constituents and the public safety.
GW: While further consultation with law enforcement and health professionals is needed, I believe the age of possession for marijuana should be consistent with the legal age for alcohol: 19.
Should Saskatchewan move to zero tolerance for any alcohol blood content while driving, temporarily seizing vehicles of any driver caught with alcohol in their blood system?
TBM: We should definitely have that conversation if current measures don’t make progress.
KC: As a province, we need to monitor the drinking and driving rates. That is why the Government recently implemented changes to the drinking and driving laws to become some of the toughest in the country.
AK: No, but I do support further strengthening drunk driving laws.
SM: We need to carefully track the success of existing changes to ensure they are having a positive result. I would not rule out further increasing penalties and regulations.
GW: No. I believe the changes we have made as a government regarding administrative penalties will have a positive impact when it comes to reducing the rates of impaired driving in Saskatchewan.
With the legalization of marijuana, do you support greater field production of it as crop?
TBM: Yes.
KC: I support a free market system. If the crop is legal, producers can grow what they want; the market will decide if the crop is viable.
AK: Saskatchewan is an agricultural powerhouse and this could be a potential opportunity our producers can be leaders in.
SM: Yes. Agriculture is an industry that Saskatchewan does as well as any other area of the world.
GW: It is too early to determine what will be required on the supply side in terms of crop production once this product is legalized. That said we should not turn our back on any economic opportunity in this area.
INFRASTRUCTURE In these times of budgetary constraint and larger more dispersed farms, would you support abandoning some underused grid roads in Saskatchewan?
TBM: (No response submitted after the Leader-Post clarified the question to what is above.) KC: We will continue to invest in road infrastructure across the province by working with local officials, RMs and town councils, to ensure that Saskatchewan products can get to market as efficiently as possible. AK: Saskatchewan has an extensive grid road infrastructure system that can be costly to maintain. I would be open to consideration of changes to the system if roads are underutilized based on consultation with SARM and rural communities.
SM: This is a decision that locally elected municipalities need to make in a prudent fashion.
GW: A reduction in the number of grid roads in the province would not be considered without extensive consultation with producers, and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. Should Saskatchewan change its farm ownership law allowing for more pension fund or foreign investment? TBM: No.
KC: The Saskatchewan Farm Safety Act outlines who can own farmland and how much; we will continue to abide by this legislation.
AK: No.
SM: No.
GW: No. There is no advantage to the province from this kind of investment.
ENVIRONMENT Do you believe the climate is changing due to human activity?
TBM: It is the result of both natural causes and human activity.
KC: Our Government will look at all policies through a sciencebased lens and will move forward with those that are based on best practice and information available.
AK: There is no doubt that climate change exists and that humans have had an impact as well as many other factors. What is important is that we take a science based approach to dealing with climate change.
SM: Yes. Every action humans have has an impact on the environment.
GW: There are many factors that contribute to it. I believe that we all have a responsibility to reduce out carbon footprint. Human activity is not the sole determinant of climate change given the Earth’s historical record.
Do you support extending carbon capture and storage initiatives in Boundary Dam 3 to Boundary Dam 4 and 5?
TBM: Yes.
KC: We will work with SaskPower to ensure that we have the most environmentally sustainable electrical generation capacity. We will work hard to reach our mandated goal of 50 per cent renewable electrical generation by 2030.
AK: CCS technology holds immense potential and further expansion needs to include further economic analysis.
SM: Saskatchewan has some decisions to make on how we achieve a 50 per cent emissions reduction by the year 2030 in our electrical generation sector. Carbon capture and storage should be part of the discussion.
GW: The capital investment required is significant. We need to think critically about SaskPower’s ability to invest in CCS while at the same time investing in more renewable power infrastructure.
Is the goal of 50 per cent renewables by 2030 ambitious enough?
TBM: Yes.
KC: Yes. We set this target as a Government and will move heaven and earth to reach it. When our Government sets targets and works hard to reach them, we have been most successful.
AK: Yes, but more work is needed on greener generation options for baseload electricity.
SM: Saskatchewan will need to balance the cost of investing in cleaner power generation with the corresponding emissions reductions we can attain.
GW: I believe this is a realistic goal and demonstrates the government’s commitment to meaningful GHG emissions reductions for the benefit of future generations.
INDIGENOUS ISSUES Will you apologize for the government’s role in the Sixties Scoop and do you support financial compensation to individual survivors?
TBM: Yes on the apology, no on financial compensation.
KC: We will apologize but do not believe that an apology need be accompanied by monetary compensation.
AK: Yes, I support an apology. SM: My team would offer to apologize, just as Premier Wall has. There would not be compensation along with the apology.
GW: While I disagree with additional provincial compensation on top of the federal government’s $800 million commitment for survivors, I am in favour of an apology and recognition on behalf of the province for this tragic policy.
Should First Nations and treaty education be infused in all areas of high school and elementary curriculum or should it be only be taught in specific classes?
TBM: The current model is correct.
KC: I have every confidence that educators can best decide how the delivery of Treaty Education unfolds within their school and the classrooms.
AK: Yes, it is important for all Saskatchewan students to understand our shared history.
SM: My team is in favour of treaty education being taught in all schools.
GW: This is not an either/or proposition. Treaty Education is a crucial to an inclusive education system, but we need not be rigid in our approach as to how and where it is taught.
Would you like to see a more aggressive goal in First Nations high school graduation?
TBM: I would like to see us get close to the one we have and have some ideas about how to get there.
KC: We have made progress but know there is more work to be done. Any concern regarding the graduation rates for First Nation students must be addressed by listening to those involved in their education.
AK: Yes, absolutely.
SM: We need to continually set goals on all of our graduation rates and ensure we are working together to achieve success.
GW: Yes. Ultimately, our goal should be to see First Nations’ high school graduation rates that are equivalent to those of our non-First Nations students.
GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION HUB & REGINA BYPASS Will you conduct an examination and/or hold an inquiry into the purchase of the 204 acres of land at the Global Transportation Hub?
TBM: Yes, pending the results of the RCMP investigation.
KC: I believe that we owe the people of Saskatchewan answers to questions around the Global Transportation Hub (GTH). Therefore, I would not rule out an inquiry, after the Manitoba prosecution reviews the RCMP investigation.
AK: Yes, if the RCMP investigation does not answer all the questions, I would be open to conducting a forensic audit.
SM: I would not preclude further action with respect ensuring transparency and accountability ... This includes the possibility of a public inquiry.
GW: Yes. I have made an unequivocal commitment to a public inquiry into the GTH once the RCMP investigation had concluded.
Will you sell the Global Transportation Hub?
TBM: Yes.
KC: This has been one of our campaign’s earliest commitments. I would at once begin action to sell the GTH to the private sector.
AK: No, it is important to our economy. We are an exporting province that needs to get our products to market.
SM: We should look at opportunities to move the management and possibly the ownership of the Global Transportation Hub to an entity that can ensure that it will become the asset to our economy that was originally envisioned.
GW: The future of the GTH needs to be decided based on sound financial reasoning. If disposing of the GTH is in the best interest of the people of Saskatchewan then I wouldn’t stand in the way.
Will you conduct a cost analysis/ assessment of the Regina bypass that has quadrupled to $1.9 billion?
TBM: The scope of the project has also expanded and the analysis is ongoing. This question assumes it isn’t.
KC: The current Regina bypass project will cost $1.9 billion and will be managed as a public-private partnership (P3) which will save approximately $380 million over the life of the project.
AK: The Regina Bypass is on budget and a further cost analysis is unnecessary.
SM: We must understand the scope of the project has increased from its original plan and the construction of the bypass is on time and on budget.
GW: I reject the premise of this question. The scope of the project has increased and of course, so has the cost. The original estimate was $400 million. The cost to construct is now $1.200 billion in recognition of the scope being three times larger.
HEALTH Do you support a woman’s right to abortion services in Saskatchewan?
TBM: Yes.
KC: My personal choice is to be pro-life. There are two candidates who are pro-life and three candidates who are pro-choice. AK: If premier, this isn’t a matter that I will put up for political discussion. The right to choose was decided by the Supreme Court of Canada three decades ago. SM: We trust those in medical practice and will not interfere with their obligations or oath. There is no plan to implement restrictions on abortion services.
GW: I am respectful of the decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada with respect to this issue as well as the provisions of the Canada Health Act.
Should the portion of mental health spending be increased to seven per cent of the health budget, as is the national average?
TBM: Yes.
KC: My commitment is to partner with the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre which offers a program that recognizes and addresses the interrelationship between mental health and addictions.
AK: I would implement recommendations in the 10-year Mental Health and Addictions Plan. SM: Yes.
GW: Yes.
Do you support the current government direction of having private CT and MRI suppliers, providing they provide an additional CT/MRI that will reduce the wait times? TBM: Yes.
KC: Yes, I believe this is the right direction to ensure that we continue our path to reduce wait times from some of the longest in Canada to some of the shortest. AK: Yes.
SM: Yes.
GW: Yes. I will continue to advocate for more private delivery of services within the public system.
Would you extend any other health services into the private sector?
TBM: Yes.
KC: Our government will look at best practices so that we support the ‘patient-first’ approach.
AK: Yes, if it would be fiscally prudent and improve service delivery for citizens.
SM: If we consider options, we would make sure they improve patient care for the people of Saskatchewan through our public system or other opportunities.
GW: Yes. Partnerships with the private sector may be considered in terms of other diagnostic services as well as auxiliary services.
Do you support needle exchanges programs and/or safe injection sites for drug users?
TBM: Yes.
KC: I support the use of wraparound services because addiction can involve many facets of the health system.
AK: Yes, but I would prefer to reduce and prevent drug use through a more coordinated delivery of service to vulnerable people.
SM: No. The province will continue to provide current services for people who are suffering with substance abuse.
GW: While there is evidence that they do work with regard to needle exchange programs, I would want to examine the issue more thoroughly when it comes to safe injection sites.