Change space politics, endorsements overshadow debate as Sask. The campaign is entering its final week

The election campaign in Saskatchewan took a difficult turn this week. Saskatchewan Party leader Scott Moe promised to introduce locker rooms in schools, while Carla Beck received support from two of Moe’s former caucus colleagues.

The announcements were made simultaneously. Moe held an appearance at the campaign office of Regina Wascana Plains candidate Christine Tell, and Beck stood on the legislative steps.

Less than 24 hours after the joint debate, the two leaders sent different messages, likely in an attempt to grab headlines and win votes after the debate.

In the 2024 election, voters will be able to cast their votes for the first time six days before the final election date, October 28th. Voters can go to the polls on Tuesday. This changes the way parties spread their messages.

The Saskatchewan Party’s “October Surprise” in this election was the promise of the locker room. It was not included in the party’s manifesto, nor was it mentioned by Moe on debate night or in the extensive scrum he held with reporters Wednesday night.

But on Thursday morning, Moe said his “first order of business” if elected would be to enact a policy that limits students’ use of school locker rooms to their assigned gender at birth.

Moe said some school divisions already have such a policy, but it will become a directive from the Department of Education.

On Wednesday, the Western Standard news outlet published a report about a parent who said his daughter felt uncomfortable in a locker room with two other students at a school in southern Saskatchewan who identified as female but were assigned male at birth became.

The Saskatchewan Party said Thursday it had “received calls and correspondence with concerns about the complaint.”

In a statement on Friday, the party said it heard concerns from parents on Thursday at a previously scheduled town hall in Balgonie with the party’s local candidate. The same statement said: “The identity of individual minors should never be part of a political debate.”

Beck receives support from three former Sask. party members

NDP Leader Carla Beck was asked about Moe’s political promise at a news conference Thursday morning, saying it was harmful to vulnerable children.

“This is the ugliest kind of politics. People in this province are constantly worried about healthcare. They worry about being able to pay their bills. They’re worried about education,” Beck said.

The issue of government policy in schools was at the forefront of Beck’s announcement, as two former Saskatchewan Party members pointed to Bill 137 and Moe’s government’s use of the derogation clause last fall in endorsing Beck.

Mark Docherty, former speaker and Sask. Party member for Regina Coronation Park said he disagreed with his former party’s position.

“It was the use of the derogation clause to further oppress young people who need our help, who need our help.”

Docherty stood before Beck in front of Parliament, wearing an orange NDP pin. Docherty spoke about how he and Beck previously worked together as social workers at a residential home for teenagers.

“This young person identifies as a girl and we will take her because no one else will and we will do our best. By God, we did our best,” Docherty said.

VIEW | Former Sask. Party MLA supports NDP, says Beck more cooperative than Moe:

Former Sask. Party MLA supports NDP, says Beck more cooperative than Moe

Mark Docherty, a former longtime Sask. Party MP and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly spoke out in favor of Carla Beck and the Sask. NDP at a news conference Wednesday in Regina.

Ian Hanna, a former speechwriter and adviser to former Prime Minister Brad Wall, echoed Docherty’s views on Bill 137.

“After a series of poor electoral performances, Scott Moe chose to sacrifice the safety of a small but extremely vulnerable group of students for his own short-term political gain.”

Hanna, who most recently worked for the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, said he can no longer support his former party.

“I didn’t leave the Saskatchewan Party, the Saskatchewan Party left me.”

Glen Hart, MLA for Last Mountain-Touchwood for 21 years, echoed Hanna’s statement and said he, too, would support Beck.

“It’s not the party I was elected to and it has changed dramatically and moved to the right and I just can’t be part of it. That’s why I see Carla and her team as the logical choice to govern this province.”

Hart said he felt Moe didn’t handle the pandemic properly. He also said the decision not to transfer the carbon tax on home heating to the federal government went too far.

“You can discuss carbon tax policy as much as you want. That’s all fair game, but if you start violating the rule of law, you are.” [setting] a bad example.

Hart also disagreed with the government’s decision to change security in the legislature through Bill 70.

“This is a small crack in our democratic system when the executive branch tries to control the legislative branch.”

LISTEN | CBC’s political panel discusses the top campaign stories from the past week:

Moe has made gender identity a campaign issue. Morning Edition’s political panel breaks it down

Gender identity policy in schools was not discussed at Wednesday’s provincial debate. Then, a day later, Scott Moe put her in the spotlight. Morning Edition’s political panel covered this and other highlights from the campaign week. Adam Hunter covers provincial politics for CBC Saskatchewan. Murray Mandryk writes a political column in the Regina Leader-Post. They joined host Stefanie Langenegger.