Regina-Wascana
Candidates:
Ralph Goodale is the Liberal Party of Canada candidate for Regina-Wascana. He has been elected MP for this riding since 1993. Goodale previously served as the leader of the provincial Liberal Party, but began his federal political career in 1974 as the MP for the rural constituency of Assiniboia. He was born in Wilcox, and has lived in the Regina area his whole life.
He says the Liberal government is looking to keep Canada stable by creating jobs, and keeping the country peaceful, inclusive and generous during a “very uncertain time” on the world stage.
“The Canadian position is strong, it can’t be taken for granted it needs careful attention and that’s what we need to do in the years going forward. Make sure that we preserve what is so good and strong and successful about Canada,” said Goodale.
Goodale mentioned lowering middle class tax rates, and incentives for energy efficient residences as two federal policies that could help families in Regina-Wascana.
Specific to the constituency, he added he would like create a successor for the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration to protect water security in the province, expand Farm Credit Canada developing around the headquarters in Regina, and designate the RCMP Heritage Centre a national museum to encourage education about the RCMP and bring in more tourism revenue to the city.
Goodale said these parts of his platform can help tackle “those issues that really can bring jobs and growth and success and prosperity to this community.”
Michael Kram is the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Regina-Wascana. He was born and raised in Regina, and has been working in the city as a software developer for the last 17 years.
Kram says economic issues are at the top of his priorities heading into the federal election.
“We certainly need to cancel the carbon tax and have a greater deal of affordability for your average working class Canadians,” said Kram. “Getting back to balanced budgets is something that we need to do. We have to stop mortgaging our children’s future, and we can’t be running deficits until forever and a day.”
He also emphasized the need for the continued growth of Saskatchewan’s natural resources through the further development of pipelines. Kram says this is a key issue for some in this riding that he has spoken to that work in the resource sector, and the province would have more funding for other areas of government with that additional revenue coming in.
“In any given year between 10 and 15 per cent of the provincial government’s budget comes from natural resource royalties, and when those resources are not getting to market it affects everyone, especially provincial government employees come collective bargaining time,” said Kram.
Hailey Clark is the NDP candidate for Regina-Wascana. She was born in northern B.C.’s Nisga’a nations. Clark’s family moved to Vanguard Sask. She said growing up in a small community taught her the importance of working together.
She took the French certificate program at the University of Regina.
At the top of her agenda is making sure energy sector employees aren’t left behind as the country switches to green energy.
She believes strongly that Canadians should never have to choose between paying a bill, and access to life-saving medication.
“Canada is one of the only countries with a universal health care program that doesn’t offer pharma care,” she said. “It’s important we care for everyone in our community through all stages of life.”
She said implementing a living wage is crucial to give people the opportunities needed to be successful.
Tamela Friesen is the Green Party of Canada Candidate for Regina-Wascana. She has worked in admissions at the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Regina for six years.
She grew up in Grand Prairie, Alta. in a conservative family. She said she has voted for every major political party in Canada, with the exception of the Bloc Québécois
Friesen took her first political run in 2011 in Manitoba’s provincial election for the Green Party. She says she saw firsthand how political decisions impact people in both positive and negative ways. In 2015, she ran in Regina-Lewvan.
Friesen says that addressing climate change is the foundation of addressing other issues. She hopes to address what she calls, “an outdated democratic system” and proportional representation in politics. She says that not much else can get done until those issues are handled.
She thinks Regina-Wascana could benefit from a fresh pair of eyes.
“There are a lot of people working coal and oil and gas [jobs], and we want to allocated dollars to local communities and [these] workers to help transition their valuable skill set away from the oil economy to the green economy.”
People's Party: Mario Milanovski
Mario Milanovski is the People’s Party of Canada candidate for Regina-Wascana. He is originally from Serbia, and immigrated to Canada in 1998. He says he feels politics in Canada is trending towards what he experienced in Serbia and he is afraid of what that could mean for the country.
Milanovski says the People’s Party policies on immigration are one of his priorities for the 2019 election.
“We do have to look out for the economy of Canada and to bring the economy back… we need less immigrants, so life would be better that way for immigrants and Canadians,” said Milanovski.
He is also emphasized lowering taxes, pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, abolishing or changing the Indian Act, and removing inter-provincial trade barriers as key parts of his platform.
“It’s not really fair to look for free trade agreements with other countries, when we don’t even have free trade within Canada,” said Milanovski.
Within Regina-Wascana, he said he would like to implement more consistent lighting along Ring Road, to improve safety.
Electoral History
The area was held by Diefenbaker’s strategist and Northern Affairs and Agriculure Minister Alvin Hamilton from 1957-1988, and PC Larry Schneider for a term, before he lost to Liberal Ralph Goodale in 1993. Goodale has held it since. He had over 57 per cent of the vote in 2006, but he only won by 12 points in 2008 and four in 2011. He had 55 per cent of the vote in 2015 to hold the seat for the Liberals.
For details on how to cast your vote, click here.
