Prince Albert riding candidates chat with locals at event in Melfort

“It’s been busy, really busy,” said Kutzan. She added that she has been to many places since the campaign began last month, but she still wants to get to several other communities she hasn’t been able to get to yet.

NDP candidate Virginia Kutzan (in orange) chatting with local residents. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

Kutzan spent 45 years as a nurse in Prince Albert, and her campaign pamphlet said she’s a “lifelong champion of the labour movement,” having served the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses from 1974 until her retirement.

Tuesday’s get-together was a relaxed, informal event, and Kutzan said she enjoyed the format.

“That was nice too, just to have it informal and a little more intimate, you get to talk to people, to hear their concerns individually and address them as best you can.”

Kutzan said during her campaign, she has heard may people expressing their angst and concern about the threats from the Donald Trump administration in the United States, including the threat of annexation.

“That’s been a common theme everywhere I’ve gone,” said Kutzan. She said those concerns affirms that her decision to run for the NDP was correct.

“I had a choice of sitting at home and throwing stuff at the TV or getting out there and actually standing up for Canada, and letting people know that we’re all in this together, and we really need to fight for our country.”

Kutzan believes that the NDP is the party that fights for ordinary working people. She said the party’s history has proven that, and she points to the pharmacare and dental care federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was able to establish from the minority Liberal government.

Conservative candidate and MP Randy Hoback was also on hand for the Candidate Come and Go Chat.

Hoback said he had a chance to talk to a number of people at the event about a variety of policy issues, including the environment, crime, addictions, and health care.

“There [are] lots of different things that are on people’s minds, so I had a chance to talk about the Conservative platform and our plans on what we’d do with those issues if we were to form government,” Hoback explained.

Conservative incumbent Randy Hoback (seated-right) talking with residents at Tuesday’s event. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

He also enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere at the Melfort Legion Tuesday night, saying it’s nice to have one-on-one conversations over a cup of coffee.

“I want to thank [the Melfort Trade Alliance Chamber of Commerce] for putting it together, it’s a chance for voters to actually talk to the candidates,” Hoback said. He also expressed his appreciation for Kutzan coming out to the meeting to share her platform and chat with constituents.

Hoback said the remainder of his campaign will consist of similar meetings and get-togethers. He was in Tisdale at the trade show over the weekend and had other meetings in Prince Albert and Shellbrook the past few days. The incumbent said he will attend as many events as possible from now until election day, and people can always get a hold of him to talk and discuss ideas and concerns.

The issues Hoback has heard most about on the campaign trail has largely depended on where he is at the time.

“If you’re in the rural areas, rural crime is an issue, if you’re in the cities you’re talking about addictions, healthcare,” said Hoback.

The one common issue, according to Hoback, is affordability.

“It costs so much to live these days, whether you’re buying groceries, you’re travelling a little bit, just the costs have gotten out of control.”

Liberal candidate Christopher Hadubiak was not in attendance.

The federal election will be held April 28.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

by Cam Lee

Prince Albert riding candidates chat with locals at event in Melfort

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