Carla Beck energized by larger Sask. NDP caucus, despite election defeat
The leader of Saskatchewan's Opposition says she's ready to take on Premier Scott Moe in the legislature after her party lost Monday's election but significantly grew its ranks.
The NDP's Carla Beck said Thursday she plans to continue to push for better health care and education, while also holding Moe's Saskatchewan Party accountable on affordability issues, rising crime rates and economic stagnation in some sectors.
"I'm feeling good, energetic and ready to go," Beck said in an interview. "And I'm very proud of the work the team did."
The NDP Opposition is projected to be Saskatchewan's largest in nearly two decades. It's on track to win 27 seats in the 61-seat legislature, short of the 31 required to form a majority.
New Democrats are projected to sweep Regina, take all but one seat in Saskatoon and hold onto the two northern seats, while failing to capture any other rural seats.
Beck says she'll continue to build relations with rural communities to bridge the divide.
"A someone whose family still lives in rural Saskatchewan, I see a lot of common ground, but a lot of people in rural Saskatchewan haven't sat down face-to-face with someone who's a New Democrat for a long time," she said.
"We saw a lot of that in this campaign, and we did see people who — once they met our candidates, saw our message — did say, 'I'm going to vote for you this time.'"
Beck failed to capture seats in the smaller cities of Prince Albert and Moose Jaw, which are critical if her party wants to form government next time.
She says there are lessons to be learned, and while the party will continue to look back at this election, "quickly, we'll be looking forward and looking to build."
Her initial disappointment in losing was also quickly eclipsed by the party's achievement in growing its seats, she says.
"I still believe that if you look for division, you'll find it, but if you look for common ground, you'll find a whole lot of that out there as well," she said.
Moe, whose party is projected to win 34 seats, was not available for an interview Thursday.
A spokesperson from his office said in an email that Moe met with newly elected government members and is planning for a new cabinet and legislative session.
Moe is projected to lose Saskatoon cabinet ministers Bronwyn Eyre and Paul Merriman, along with Regina's Laura Ross, Christine Tell and Gene Makowsky.
On social media Thursday, Moe wrote people voted for "a strong economy and a bright future," while others voted for change. "Our new government will deliver both," he wrote.
In his victory speech, he told supporters he must do better. He said he heard the message that there's unhappiness in how the province is delivering health care, education and affordability.
With her larger caucus, Beck says, she'll lead by example while making sure her members can hold their own.
"Let people shine," she said. "We've got an incredibly bright group of people, really dedicated people who are connected to their communities.
"The people of Saskatchewan will benefit from the integrity and from the work ethic that these new MLAs are going to bring."