The long time MLA for Athabasca is resigning his seat to seek a federal nomination.
Buckley Belanger has announced he will be seeking the nomination for the Liberal Party of Canada for the northern Saskatchewan riding of Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River. In a media release sent out Tuesday morning the longtime MLA said he would officially leave his position August 15.
Belanger has served in the Saskatchewan Legislature since 1995. He originally won election as a member of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party, but later stepped down and was elected to the Athabasca seat as a member of the Saskatchewan New Democrats in a by-election and has been re-elected in every election since. In the current sitting he was the longest serving MLA.
During his career in provincial politics Belanger sat in the cabinets of premiers Roy Romanow and Lorne Calvert where he held a number of portfolios including Highways and Infrastructure and Environment. Before being elected to the legislative assembly Belanger was mayor of Île-à-la-Crosse and also worked for MBC Radio.
He explained by entering federal politics he feels there is the chance to make change. Belanger added the current Liberal government has also implemented a number of policies he supports.
“We have an opportunity to bring change to our region. I’m making this shift in politics to bring a strong Indigenous voice to the federal level. Since 2015, the federal government under the leadership of Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau has made progress through the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and significant support during the COVID-19 crisis when people needed it the most.” he said.