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Meili came out swinging in the leader’s debate even if the Saskatchewan Party reigns the polls

The debate between Sask. Party Leader Scott Moe and NDP Leader Ryan Meili on Oct. 14 in Regina showed the province’s growing and partisan divide over many social issues.

The debate between Sask. Party Leader Scott Moe and NDP Leader Ryan Meili on Oct. 14 in Regina showed the province’s growing and partisan divide over many social issues. Saskatchewan’s extending divisions were on display as the leaders of the government and the official opposition offered their opinions on taxation, education, low income wage earners and mandatory masks to prevent COVID-19.

Moderated by Molly Thomas – a former CTV reporter and anchor – the debate on Wednesday night experienced occasional audio problems. However, this fifty-minute political war of words between the leaders still had a riveting appeal, as Meili and Moe talked about their diverse visions for Saskatchewan’s future.

Meili often referred to “Mr. Moe’s austerity plan of cuts,” throughout the night.

Moe, often on the defensive, proclaimed he had no plans to sell off Crowns to pay for the cuts, although Meili spoke of secret meetings to sell-off SaskTel and SGI.

When the discussion came to mandatory masks, Moe talked about the province’s “collective success” in achieving low case numbers of COVID-19.

A day before, Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab told a news conference on Tuesday about a reduction in the numbers of those allowed to attend gatherings in private residences when COVID-19 cases were on the rise in Saskatchewan.

Moe underlined the government’s immediate reaction to COVID-19, when the maximum of 30 people in gatherings was immediately trimmed to 15 on Oct. 13.

Although Moe still refused to institute a policy of compulsory masking in the province, he advised the people in Saskatchewan to wear protective gear when social distancing of two-metres wasn’t feasible. Yet, the premier’s stance on masks appeared uncertain throughout the debate. “When you’re able to maintain physical distancing, masks are not necessary,” the premier stated.

“There’s no clear message on where and when to use them,” Meili responded, when the NDP leader was asked about his thoughts over the Saskatchewan government’s stance on advising people to wear masks in public without making them mandatory.

The Public Health Agency of Canada recommended people to wear non-medical masks or face coverings in public places, especially crowded areas where physical distancing of two metres isn’t possible, since June. Some provinces – notably Alberta and Ontario – are instituting compulsory masking in areas wherever social distancing isn’t doable, such as inside large shopping areas and public transit.

The NDP outperformed the Saskatchewan Party on the province’s low minimum wage section of the debate as well. Saskatchewan's minimum wageincreased by13 centsto $11.45 per hour, up from $11.32 per hour, but is still well below in comparison to the minimum wages in other provinces.

While Meili gave direct responses to policy issues such as increasing the minimum wage and tax cuts, Premier Moe often gave pensive and measured retorts. “We’re not selling Crowns,” he repeated, when asked by Meili on how the government planned to deliver their latest tax cuts, since the government has a history of selling off Crowns such as the STC.

“Mr. Moe’s plan for cuts will slow down the economy,” Meili said. The NDP leader also talked about the question of overcrowded classrooms – a perilous situation in some of the province’s schools because of COVID-19.

Although the NDP leader gave a strong showing, the Saskatchewan Party pointed out a possible costing deficiency in the opposing party’s platform.

In a release sent by Jim Billington, the Communications Director for the Saskatchewan Party Campaign, he said “Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili was left answering questions for the $4 billion in unaccounted spending revealed during the debate, totalling the NDP’s spending spree at over $6.7 billion. Moe stated that an NDP government would drive up taxes, drive up the deficit, or both. Meili again failed to provide a plan for how the NDP would balance the budget, instead promising billions of reckless spending.”

The NDP in turn said “Saskatchewan New Democrat Leader Ryan Meili demonstrated what real leadership looks like with his plan to fix health care, make schools safer by reducing class sizes and create good jobs for Saskatchewan families at the provincial leaders’ debate.

“Ryan focused on people - the people who are being let down by Scott Moe and the Sask. Party.

“At this debate, Scott Moe showed Saskatchewan families that he is satisfied with the status quo and his plan for dangerous cuts during a pandemic. He tried to hide from his record of damaging health care, failing on the economy and abandoning families already stretched and stressed before COVID-19.”

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