With the NDP campaign for the leadership now in the homestretch, candidate Erin Weir has been busy seeking support in the Northwest region.
Weir, who spoke to the News-Optimist Thursday, had come to the Battlefords from Meadow Lake where he attended the annual meeting of the constituency association the night before. His focus for the day was on the NDP leadership forum that evening at the Western Development Museum in North Battleford.
He had hoped to go to Lloydminster earlier that day, but bad highway conditions and blowing snow put an end to that idea. Instead, Weir planned his Lloydminster visit for Friday as he continued his campaign tour of the province in the lead up to the March 9 vote in Saskatoon.
A well-known economist with an extensive background in the labour movement, Weir says he is running because "I think the Saskatchewan NDP needs to articulate an alternative policy vision. In particular I think we need to engage the Saskatchewan Party on economic issues."
He acknowledged the unique challenges the NDP faces in going up against the still-popular Premier Brad Wall.
"We've got a good group of leadership candidates, but I don't think any of us are going to win a personal popularity contest against the premier. Where I think we can win is in the battle of ideas, so I think we need to differentiate ourselves from the Sask. Party and explain what a New Democratic government would do differently."
In staking out his position compared to the other three leadership hopefuls Ryan Meili, Trent Wotherspoon and Cam Broten, Weir has set out some distinct positions on economic policy in particular. One idea he is touting is to collect "a fair return from our non-renewable resources."
Weir says he has particularly focused on "closing loopholes in our royalties and taxes that allow companies to extract oil and potash without paying anything approaching standard royalty and tax rates."
He says potash companies are currently allowed to write off 120 per cent of what they invest. "I can see a company write off every dollar it invests, 100 per cent," said Weir. "I don't know why we give potash companies this extra 20 per cent. That alone costs the province about $140 million a year in lost revenue."
On the topic of oil, Saskatchewan has incentives for horizontal drilling that were brought in when the technology was first introduced, but Weir believes it's time for those incentives to go.
"We still allow companies to pay a royalty of two and a half per cent on the first 38,000 barrels they extract from each new horizontal well. I don't think Saskatchewan should be giving away oil just to promote a technology that's proven and very well established."
Weir says he believes his more detailed stance on closing loopholes differentiates himself because the other candidates "talk of an open-ended review."
He says that talk leaves the NDP open to attack from the Saskatchewan Party and points to the last election as an example.
"I think the problem with an open-ended review is it gives the Sask. Party a blank slate to say whatever it wants about what the NDP's proposals might entail. I'm trying to be quite precise about what the problem is and the solutions I'm putting forward."
Weir also has a number of key positions on a variety of other issues, such as using the revenue to invest in developing renewable alternatives including energy conservation and renewable power facilities.
On social policy, he is proposing universally accessible childcare between the ages of two and five for $7 a day. He calls it a very important proposal "in terms of early childhood education and also in terms of allowing parents to access employment opportunities."
On health care, Weir decries Sask. Party moves to what he sees as more private health care and private clinics. "As New Democrats we need to not only defend the existing public health care system but also expand that model of public administration and delivery to other areas."
He says he wants to see medicare expand to include pharmaceuticals and dental care.
He also is proposing recourse to binding arbitration to either union or management in cases of lockouts lasting over 90 days, an idea he says is borrowed from Manitoba. He also supports anti-scab legislation to prohibit replacement workers during a strike or lockout.
On agricultural issues, Weir also pledged to push for a restoration of single-desk marketing in the wake of the end of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly, and he also wants to see an expansion in the number of grain cars to support the short-line rail system and "limit the monopoly the two major railroads often have in transporting agricultural products."
Weir spoke to the News-Optimist on the eve of what was a critical juncture in the NDP race.
Jan. 25 marked the deadline for new or renewing NDP members to sign up as members of the party and therefore be eligible to cast a vote in the leadership race. Weir acknowledged the focus of the race will shift somewhat in the weeks to come.
"We've all made an effort to sign up and renew members," said Weir. "Going forward there will be a focus on canvassing support on those who do have 2013 Saskatchewan NDP memberships and ensuring our supporters do cast their ballots."
Once the leadership race is over, he anticipates the party will unite quickly behind whoever is elected.
"It's been a very collegial campaign. All the candidates get along well with each other so that bodes well for the future."
In the meantime, Weir plans to continue to put forward specific policy proposals and ideas as the campaign moves into its final weeks. Those seeking more information on Weir's campaign can visit his campaign website at www.erinweir.ca.
