Scott Moe has officially tossed his hat in the ring to become the next leader of the Saskatchewan Party and premier of the province.
Moe made the announcement in the Corman Industrial Park on Friday morning. He was joined by 21 MLAs who are endorsing his leadership bid.
READ MORE: What hurdles potential candidates in Sask. Party leadership race face
“What the people of the Saskatchewan Party are going to do is pick a leader they feel will win that election in 2020,” Moe said.
“I said I wouldn’t be standing at that podium alone, I wouldn’t be standing there without a strong team. Today we have that strong team, we feel we have the team that will win that election in 2020.”
That team includes Jeremy Harrison, who dropped out of the race to endorse Moe, and current Health Minister Jim Reiter.
READ MORE: Jeremy Harrison withdraws from Saskatchewan Party leadership race
“(Moe) has become a leader in our caucus and cabinet and I know he is the best person to lead our team and the Saskatchewan Party forward,” Reiter said.
First elected to the legislature in 2011, Moe has served as the minister of many portfolios including Advanced Education and Environment. Most recently he served as the minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Water Corporation and Water Security Agency.
Moe has been very open about his impaired driving conviction in 1992, but doesn’t see it being a liability in this race.
“It happened a long time ago, it’s something I deeply regret, and it’s part of who I am today,” Moe said.
He believes his experience contributed to changes to drinking and driving laws implemented by the Saskatchewan Party government.
Moe has also been vocal of his opposition to a federally-imposed carbon tax.
“We will not put that burden on our resource sector, on our agricultural sector or on the families of this province,” Moe said.
He believes Saskatchewan’s contribution is conversation around climate change policy and innovation.
When asked if he would consider some of the cuts in this year’s provincial budget, Moe defended the three-year plan but hinted at future consultations with residents in Saskatchewan.
“I think it’s important for us to engage with Saskatchewan people, on ways to help get back to balance,” Moe said.
“We’ll come forward with some of those policies through the next number of weeks.”
Moe is the fifth candidate to enter the leadership race alongside Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Gord Wyant, Alanna Koch and Ken Cheveldayoff.
Saskatchewan Party members vote for a new leader at a leadership convention in Saskatoon Jan. 27, 2018.
Comments