Ken Cheveldayoff believes that he is the candidate who can bridge rural and urban voters in the province.
Cheveldayoff, who is one of five candidates vying to be the next leader of the Saskatchewan Party, and in turn the next premier of the province, was in Estevan on Oct. 17 to speak to supporters at the Western Star Hotel.
While in Estevan, he also visited with Mayor Roy Ludwig as well as Jackie Wall, the executive director with the Estevan Chamber of Commerce.
Cheveldayoff grew up Blaine Lake, but is a longtime resident of Saskatoon. He has been the MLA for Saskatoon Silver Springs since 2003, has held a number of cabinet posts and is the most experienced of the five Sask. Party leadership candidates.
A 10-year run as a cabinet minister ended when he entered the race for the leadership of the Sask. Party.
He believes it’s important for the Sask. Party to maintain its base of support in rural Saskatchewan, but it also has to win rural seats.
“We have to win more than a handful in Saskatoon and Regina and Prince Albert and Moose Jaw, and we have to win seats in ridings like Estevan as well,” said Cheveldayoff. “I have the ability to bring rural and urban together.”
Cheveldayoff says his time in rural Saskatchewan showed him the challenges and benefits of living in small communities.
But if the Sask. Party is to hold on to those cities, then it will take a premier people have confidence in.
“People are concerned about growth,” said Cheveldayoff. “In our cities we have large immigrant populations. They’re wanting to see changes to the (Saskatchewan) Immigrant Nominee Program.”
During his speech, Cheveldayoff voiced his opposition to the federal government’s plan to impose a carbon tax on Saskatchewan, and voiced his support for the carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Power Station.
“It’s world class technology,” said Cheveldayoff. “It’s high-risk and it’s leading edge, but it’s doing our part to make sure that Saskatchewan leads the way in a green economy.”
He also backs innovation, food science and food security as a solution to emissions.
“We can accomplish the same thing that the federal government is trying to do with the carbon tax through innovation and through food security,” said Cheveldayoff.
If photosynthesis can be improved from six per cent to eight per cent, that would make a big difference in emissions.
“Given the choice between a carbon tax, or spending money on innovation and food science and creativity, and being world class in that area, I’ll take the investment in innovation each and every time,” said Cheveldayoff.
He admits the provincial government made mistakes during this year’s budget, including cuts to regional libraries that were later reversed, and imposing the provincial sales tax (PST) on insurance premiums.
“I’ve met with advocates, and I’ve met the group that represents the financial planners and the life insurance salespeople in the province, and they’ve shown me there’s a better way to do it,” said Cheveldayoff.
Should he become premier, Cheveldayoff would establish a commission for 60 days to look at taxation policies for the province.
Another area of concern for Cheveldayoff is the Global Transportation Hub (GTH), which he called an asset for the province, but also an issue because it involves land speculation.
“The value of that land is in excess of what the government paid for it,” said Cheveldayoff. “We can tell the people of the province of Saskatchewan and demonstrate to them that we can sell it, that they didn’t lose any on money it, and we can put it (the GTH) in the hands of the private sector.”
It’s also important to look at the next 10 years of growth, he said.
“When I talk to people across the province, they seem to be feeling that we’re turning the corner,” said Cheveldayoff.
That growing optimism was echoed by the local chamber during their meeting.
People in the oil and gas sector have told him the government should continue with its approach to oil and gas royalties.
“They want to have some assurance for the next six, eight and 10 years, and that’s what they need to go out to their investors and their shareholders, and people who are providing them with capital,” said Cheveldayoff.
Over the next 10 years, he believes the government needs to look at areas of strength, including, oil, gas and mining. But it also needs to look at other areas, such as information technology.
He also wants to have a listening tour in which the Sask. Party MLAs and candidates gather to talk to provincial leaders about six issues that are important to Saskatchewan people: small business and entrepreneurship, agriculture, education, healthcare, social services and crime.
Internet connectivity is a recurring concern he has heard, particularly from those in small towns and on farms who can’t compete because of slower Internet. He would like to see SaskTel spend 10 per cent of its capital budget on establishing world class Internet services for those in small communities.
“It would mean an increase in their Internet service of about 225 per cent,” said Cheveldayoff. “I can tell you that policy is a home run, because people across the province are so excited about that.”
