It is the home stretch of the Saskatchewan Party leadership race, and Scott Moe is still working to secure every last vote he can find.
Moe was at the Empress Furniture-Carpet Superstores building in North Battleford’s north end for a meet-and-greet event with Sask Party supporters Friday night.
From that point on there were only 22 days left in the campaign to replace Brad Wall as party leader and Premier. Moe, the MLA from Rosthern-Shellbrook, likened it to harvest time for farmers.
“It’s like a long harvest August day,” said Moe, calling it an “exciting time.”
In speaking to the News-Optimist, Moe said he’s continued to promote his policy on the economic side to “grow the economy, grow our wealth here in the province,” and grow jobs.
He also said he is putting forward his education policy, with ideas such as putting 400 educational assistants directly into classrooms. He has also pitched a growth target of 1.5 million population for the province by 2030.
At the Friday event, Moe continued to push the familiar themes of his campaign, such as his staunch opposition to a carbon tax. Moe also took questions on a number of pressing issues including the GTH, marijuana legalization, and trade.
But while Moe has continued to promote policy ideas to members, there aren’t as many undecided votes out there to be swayed compared to his previous campaign appearances in the city.
Membership sales have long since closed as of Dec. 8, and many minds are made up.
In fact, the voting process has already begun as mail-in ballots have already been sent to members. Some ballots are already starting to be sent in to be counted.
Moe says he’s received the ballots in his own household and “we’ve filled them out and we’re in the process of sending them back in.”
Moe says his main priority right now is to remind his own supporters to cast their votes and get them in to be counted.
“It’s now about filling the ballots in, talking to people, so they don’t forget to fill them in,” said Moe.
He says teams of people have been on the phones seeking support, and the campaign is also sending emails out to remind people. Moe said he plans to go on the telephones himself to call potential supporters.
Moe is also hoping in these final days to sway anyone still making up their minds on where to rank him on their preferential ballot.
“We’re hoping they’ll see fit to put me number one on their ballots and if not, number two.”
There have been reports of certain campaigns setting up their own voting stations in order to get votes cast. For his part Moe said everyone’s approach is a little different.
“We’re just continuing on with our getting out into the communities, talking to people, ensuring they talk to other people in the community about getting that ballot and filling it out.”
Prior to North Battleford, Moe was in Saskatoon in the afternoon and Prince Albert and Meadow Lake the day before. He planned another stop in Saskatoon on Sunday and more events and meetings throughout the province the following week.
The race wraps up with the counting of votes and announcement of the winner at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon on Jan. 27. The other candidates Moe is facing are Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Ken Cheveldayoff, Alanna Koch and Gord Wyant.
Moe anticipates the contest will likely take a number of ballots to be decided, with second and third-choice ballots becoming a factor.
“This is a horse race,” said Moe. “There’s a number of good candidates in this race. And it’s been just a whole lot of fun and a true honour to run alongside my colleagues in this leadership race. But the great part about this race is it’s now up to the membership.”
