SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan New Democrats have kicked off their convention in Saskatoon with ambitious goals of winning the reins of power.
To launch the three days of convention activity on Friday, NDP Leader Carla Beck confirmed what has already been reported by Sask Today: that longtime former deputy minister Ron Styles has been appointed to “lead a transition team for the next NDP government.”
The appointment raises eyebrows as Saskatchewan isn’t even close to a pending election, but Beck says they want to get ready now.
“Now, I will admit, it perhaps seems a bit ambitious to do this three years out. And I guarantee the people of Saskatchewan that we are taking nothing for granted. But I also want the people of Saskatchewan to know that we’re not messing around. If we form government in Saskatchewan, we’re planning to hit the ground running on day one. We’re not going to waste a minute, so we’re planning now.”
Beck said she has asked Styles to focus on three key areas: the implementation of our election commitments, with specific focus on securing Saskatchewan’s economic future and strengthening public services;a focus on restoring effective and efficient government, and addressing the “financial mess”; and to develop transition strategies to “ensure that we can indeed hit the ground running right from day one.”
Not only was the Styles appointment an indication that the NDP are focused on winning power, but so is the lineup of speakers for the three days at TCU Centre.
On Saturday night, the highlighted event is a “Conversation with Premiers in Waiting” involving Beck, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi and Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender. The event is to be moderated by NDP strategist and former federal leadership candidate Brian Topp.
There are also several panel discussions and policy sessions set for the three days, Beck herself is scheduled to deliver her speech to delegates Saturday, and the vote by delegates to reconfirm her leadership is set to happen as well. On Sunday, Oct. 5, it is expected the party will announce who is selected to serve on the party executive.
Beck made it known she believes the party has momentum, pointing to the increased interest from delegates as evidence. She said there were 600 delegates attending, double the previous convention.
She told reporters she believes the Styles appointment will “continue the momentum.”
“I think we’ve already turned a lot of heads. I think there are already a lot of people who see this team as a government-in-waiting. A lot of people who, you know, even since the last election, have seen how hard we’re working, how this team throws ourselves not only into our job of holding the government to account, but building solutions, who sees that this is the team that they want to put their support behind.”
As for what the NDP plans are to actually win the next election, Beck had this to say:
“You know, there was a rather well-known politician in Saskatchewan who once said, you know, after an election defeat, we’re going to lay us down and bleed a while,” said Beck, repeating a phrase used by Tommy Douglas.
“You know, we didn’t even have to lay down. We didn’t bleed after this last election. We might have rested our eyes for a second, but we’ve been up and going every day since that night. People around this province have seen our MLAs, have seen our team out working with them. Again, not only talking about the problems, but building solutions with them. People can continue to expect to see that from us.”
