Hearing it from Rob Feist, NDP candidate in the Battlefords, it has been a smooth first few days on the campaign trail.
“The campaign has been energetic, enthusiastic, we’ve got a big pool of volunteers,” said Feist.
But that sentiment stands in contrast to what was a rocky first week in the rest of the province, which saw the NDP fire its campaign manager Frank Quennell and drop four candidates over controversial social media posts.
As well, five candidates — three from the Sask. Party and two for the NDP — got in trouble over past impaired driving convictions. One of those was Scott Moe, the Sask. Party incumbent in Rosthern-Shellbrook.
But Feist insists he’s not seeing that sort of “gotcha” politics in the Battlefords from his opponents — incumbent Herb Cox of the Sask. Party, Dexter Gopher of the Liberals or Josh Hunt of the Green Party.
“What I really like about being in this riding, and I’ll speak well of the three other candidates that I’m in the race with, there has been no ‘gotcha’ politics here. There has been no mudslinging that I’m aware of. I think we’re talking about the issues and New Democrats here are focused on the issues.”
Feist decried the general negative tone of the campaign seen elsewhere.
“It is disappointing that in other jurisdictions [there is talk about] Twitter tweets and DUIs. That does not help anyone, that’s not what the people on the doorsteps are talking to me about at all. In fact I have had no one talk to me about Twitter tweets or DUIs, or any of the other gotcha politics or mudslinging going on elsewhere.”
Instead, Feist said in the Battlefords people are seeking “forward-focused” solutions.
“I’m trying to stay above that fray. I’m hopeful the other candidates can stay above that fray, and I think to everyone’s credit, we in the Battlefords have and we’re going to keep being focused on issues and moving the province forward.”
The Feist campaign got a bit of a boost Tuesday as NDP leader Cam Broten brought his leader’s tour to the Battlefords to present his party’s public safety policies.
Feist said the NDP leader spoke to party volunteers of “front end solutions” to crime, including prevention of crime.
“We certainly need more attention paid to the crime issue in our city,” said Feist. “(Broten) knows there was a shooting last weekend. He was very concerned about that, and he really said we need to start looking at the front-end solutions to crime. He acknowledged that the back-end solutions to crime, more policing, more police resources, they’re always important, but we really need to look at things like the HUB model, we really need to look at things like The Lighthouse, that are going to put us out in front on the crime issue in our community and are going to, in the long run, save taxpayer dollars and are going to take the strain off of social services, the health care system and the policing system.”
Broten also spoke about the P3 issue and how problematic that was, particularly with respect to the Saskatchewan Hospital project.
In all, Feist said he was impressed by the knowledge the NDP leader had of the area’s issues.
“The amazing thing about Cam Broten is how briefed he is on local issues,” said Feist, “how well he understands not just the Battlefords but every community across the province.”
After speaking to the party volunteers, Broten joined the campaign team for some door knocking on North Battleford’s west side.
Earlier in the day, Broten had been in Shell Lake with Rose Freeman, the NDP candidate in Rosthern-Shellbrook, and had been in Regina and Saskatoon before that. Despite the long day, Broten stuck with the campaign in the Battlefords until about 9 p.m.
“It was an exciting night and it was exciting to have Cam Broten in the Battlefords,” said Feist.
Feist said Broten referred only briefly to a hot topic that put North Battleford in the national news last week, the story of the two homeless individuals who were each given a bus ticket by Social Services to leave for British Columbia.
Their arrival drew a storm of criticism from B.C. officials towards Saskatchewan over the handling of their situation.
Later, it was reported one of the two individuals had an outstanding court date coming up in Saskatchewan, which raised Feist’s ire even more.
“I’m sort of amazed that one arm of the Sask. Party government gave a bus ticket to flee the law from another arm of the Sask. Party government,” said Feist.
“That said, I think the big thing on that issue is, we’re passing people off to other provinces and not dealing with them and giving them the solutions and the help that they need here in the Battlefords.”
He said The Lighthouse was available, and noted Broten had voiced his support for a core funding model.
“We should be providing that support on the front end, not shipping people off to other provinces. It just doesn’t make sense,” said Feist.
The Battlefords NDP candidate says he will continue with door-to-door campaigning. Feist said he plans to participate in both the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce all-candidates forum March 22 and the CUPE forum March 23 in North Battleford.
While nothing’s been confirmed yet, Feist said Broten hinted he would be back in the riding before election day April 4.
