THE BATTLEFORDS — Tom Kroczynski will be hoping to represent The Battlefords in the Legislative Assembly after the 2024 election, after winning the NDP nomination for the constituency at their Nov. 24 meeting at the Chapel Gallery.
"Tonight, together, we're taking our first step toward something better for the constituents of the Battlefords and for the people of Saskatchewan," Kroczynski said in a speech after winning the nomination by acclimation.
"Our family, my wife, myself and our two boys, Connor and Shawn arrived here in North Battleford in 2001. And we arrived blind we didn't know anybody or anything about the Battlefords. But what we immediately noticed as we ventured out to the grocery store, or the library, or the bank, was how kind and friendly people were. Folks were cheery, chatty and happy to get to know us. This wasn't home for us. But right off the bat, it felt like home," he said.
Kroczynski, the 55-year-old music and French teacher currently works at Bready Elementary but has taught at NBCHS, Battleford Central School, and St. Mary's. He's running because he's tired of the government's approach to education, among other things that include seniors struggling in care homes that are falling apart, the underfunded public education system, and a weakening healthcare system.
"These aren't just routine problems that pop up in the day-to-day running of things. These are full-blown catastrophes brought on by mismanagement, a lack of vision, and an astounding deficit of empathy.
"So if you want to know if a crisis in education is coming our way, the answer is no. Because it's already here," Kroczynski said.
"We shouldn't be afraid to say we believe in this — in a better future for ourselves and for our kids. The current government wants us to think that this is as good as it gets. But if we can imagine a better future, and we can, then we must begin the hard work of striving for it. Nothing less will do."
But it wasn't just Kroczynski sharing his thoughts on the government. Carla Beck, leader of the opposition was in attendance and said the NDP is ready to form government in 2024.
"It is, it is wonderful. And [he's] exactly the kind of people that we need in this province right now. And frankly, such a sharp contrast to the government that we have in power in Saskatchewan right now. We have a government right now who are failing people on front after front after front, from corner to corner to corner to corner of this province.
"Too many people in this province are falling further and further behind. There's a list as long as my arm and we could probably be here all night to talk about the things that we're seeing in our communities," she said, mentioning the cost of living, healthcare workers burning out, the closure of operating rooms, and struggles in education.
"This may be a tired and out-of-touch government. But they will fight with every fibre of their being and every dollar in their coffer to ensure that they stay in power. We're going to have a fight in front of us. But you know what? We say bring it on, we can't wait.
"It was New Democrats who helped build this province, who were the architects ... and it will take New Democrats to clean up the Sask. Party mess again," she said.
"Our brightest days are ahead of us."
In an interview following the event, when asked why he'd decided to run, Kroczynski said,
"I guess as a teacher I'm feeling frustrated by the way the government has been conducting themselves through the latest contract negotiations, but also with the gradual underfunding of education over the last 10 years."
"Everywhere we look, in a school in education across the city and across the province people are suffering. Teachers are suffering, kids are suffering, families are suffering," he said, adding that the government isn't aware, evidenced by their lack of action to fix it.
"Student needs are rising, can see it in the schools, administrators are juggling limited amounts of money to make the most of it ... it's like a chessboard, sliding pieces around trying to prevent things from happening," he said.
"That all sounds despairing and yet teachers, educational assistants, and principals are all finding a way to make it work still. But they're burning out."
