The Battlefords have been a popular stop lately for those seeking the top job in Saskatchewan's New Democratic Party.
The latest leadership candidate to arrive is Ryan Meili, who was set to appear at a campaign function in North Battleford Friday - a meet and greet at the CUPE Local 511 Office in North Battleford at 7 p.m.
Meili is no stranger to campaigning in the Battlefords, having been to the area during his first bid for the NDP leadership in 2009. Meili was a newcomer to politics at the time but worked hard to get himself known during that race. He ultimately finished runner-up in the contest that elected Dwain Lingenfelter.
Meili, who spoke to the Regional Optimist Tuesday, says his event Friday will "give people in the Battlefords area a chance to sit down with me, hear a little bit about why I'm running and what my vision is for the party, and to ask any questions they might have."
His motivation for running for the NDP leadership is to lead a process of renewal in the party - something he notes is even more pronounced than the last time he ran.
"Last time, I suppose I learned a lot about the process and felt there was a real need for renewal and a fresh approach. I think we missed an opportunity to some degree to do the real renewal at that time. That need is still present and I think I bring a different set of skills and viewpoints than maybe we traditionally see from politicians and I'm hoping people would be interested in the things I have to say."
In terms of renewing the party, Meili indicated his interest in making the party more democratic and more open in its policy development.
He said he wants to see "better democratic engagement and better citizen involvement," and indicated he wants to involve more party members and also more people in the general public in the decision-making process.
"The middle of our party's name is 'democratic.' it should be the centre of all that we do," said Meili.
As one might expect, Meili, a medical doctor, is pushing health issues as the forefront of his campaign.
But he views the issue in far broader terms, pointing to the impact of various other factors on health.
"It's just so clear especially with the lower income population that I work with, that it's not 'medical' problems that we're facing. It's social problems, it's lack of income, it's lack of good housing, it's lack of educational or employment opportunity that winds up making people ill. So everything I do in the clinic is sort of putting a Bandaid on it than dealing with the real causes."
His whole focus is the fact that "health outcomes really are a good goal for us to have as a province, as a society, " looking at improving the health of everyone in the province. Secondly "we need to actually be involved in the real causes - income, education, employment, housing, nutrition."
With the Battlefords being home to Saskatchewan Hospital, mental health issues are certainly among the concerns for Meili.
"Mental health in particular is a part of our health care system that has been, I think, not sufficiently addressed," he said.
He believes there needs to be an "open conversation" on the issue of mental health, and the need to develop a strategy on mental health that goes beyond medical services to include more counselling and psychological services, and prevention measures as well.
On economic issues, Meili talked of the need to move from a "booming" economy to a "blooming" economy, one "that's more diverse and more stable and sustainable in the long term."
It means "not concentrating on a few resource industries but using the success that we're having in those resource industries to incentivize the development of a broader range of economic opportunities."
As for the hot topic of labour issues, Meili calls unions "an essential element of that democratic reform, of that citizen involvement" that he talks about, and adds "when I see the provincial government trying to make it more difficult for workers to organize, making their decisions to the benefit of employers to the exclusion of workers, that seems to be the very wrong direction. We need to be seeking something more balanced that's better for all of us."
The leadership contest has entered a new phase as of late as Meili and the other three leadership candidates in the race - Cam Broten, Trent Wotherspoon and Erin Weir - have begun all-candidates leadership forums.
The was Nov. 17 in Regina before an audience of several hundred people.
"They packed the house - they had to pull out more chairs," said Meili. "There was a lot of interest in what was being said and I for one really enjoyed it. The level of debate among the four candidates is really quite high."
Several more leadership forums are scheduled across the province over the next several weeks and months, with North Battleford to host one of those events in the New Year.
Meili intends to be back in the Battlefords as one of the participants in that leadership forum, to be held at Western Development Museum Jan. 24.
