Ryan Meili. Photo courtesy of Twitter.
One of the candidates for the Saskatchewan NDP party leadership is visiting the north this week.
Ryan Meili plans to do some canoeing and camping in the Missinipe and Stanley Mission area. He also says he is looking forward to meeting with people from the area to discuss their concerns.
“What I am doing this summer, except for a few days of paddling, is spending most of my time out around the whole province, connecting with as many people as I can, listening to what the issues are that are concerning them the most,” he said.
Meili says issues surrounding health care and addictions are major topics in northern Saskatchewan, as well as education. He says another issue getting plenty of attention is the proposed changes to liquor regulations in La Ronge.
“I wouldn’t want to weigh in on exact recommendations, I think this is a local community discussion that has to happen,” he said. “Certainly alcohol and other substance abuse is a problem in many communities in Saskatchewan and it’s a conversation we need to have.”
Meili says he also wants to meet with people impacted by the Northlands College takeover of the NORTEP Program, to get their opinions on how the transition is being handled.
He also hopes to attend the first ever pride parade being held in La Ronge this weekend.