The debate between Sask. Party Leader Scott Moe and NDP Leader Ryan Meili on Oct. 14 in Regina showed the province鈥檚 growing and partisan divide over many social issues. Saskatchewan鈥檚 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 鈥� a former CTV reporter and anchor 鈥� 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鈥檚 future.
Meili often referred to 鈥淢r. Moe鈥檚 austerity plan of cuts,鈥� 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鈥檚 鈥渃ollective success鈥� 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鈥檚 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鈥檛 feasible. Yet, the premier鈥檚 stance on masks appeared uncertain throughout the debate. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e able to maintain physical distancing, masks are not necessary,鈥� the premier stated.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no clear message on where and when to use them,鈥� Meili responded, when the NDP leader was asked about his thoughts over the Saskatchewan government鈥檚 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鈥檛 possible, since June. Some provinces 鈥� notably Alberta and Ontario 鈥� are instituting compulsory masking in areas wherever social distancing isn鈥檛 doable, such as inside large shopping areas and public transit.
The NDP outperformed the Saskatchewan Party on the province鈥檚 low minimum wage section of the debate as well. Saskatchewan's minimum wage听increased by听13 cents听to $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. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not selling Crowns,鈥� 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.
鈥淢r. Moe鈥檚 plan for cuts will slow down the economy,鈥� Meili said. The NDP leader also talked about the question of overcrowded classrooms 鈥� a perilous situation in some of the province鈥檚 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鈥檚 platform.
In a release sent by Jim Billington, the Communications Director for the Saskatchewan Party Campaign, he said 鈥淪askatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili was left answering questions for the $4 billion in unaccounted spending revealed during the debate, totalling the NDP鈥檚 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.鈥�
The NDP in turn said 鈥淪askatchewan 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鈥� debate.听
鈥淩yan focused on people - the people who are being let down by Scott Moe and the Sask. Party.听
鈥淎t 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.鈥澨�
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