Tina Beaudry-Mellor. Photo courtesy of saskparty.com
A leadership candidate for the SaskParty says she has a plan to increase employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in northern Saskatchewan.
Tina Beaudry-Mellor announced her intention to work directly with northern Saskatchewan if she is chosen as leader.
In a media release entitled Engaging Northern Saskatchewan, the leadership hopeful says she intends to “facilitate industry partnership and provide strategic investment that create paths to employment and entrepreneurship.”
The former Social Services Minister says she plans to work with northern leaders on this plan one community at a time.
“We cannot take on the entire north with a one-size-fits-all approach,” Beaudry-Mellor told MBC. “It’s up to communities to come up with the things that work best for them.”
Beaudry-Mellor says her plan would also have deliberate consideration for opportunities for women and girls. She also says she plans to explore certification for personal care aids to provide care to community elders.
“It’s really an invitation to engage and to take a different approach then what has been taken before,” said Beaudry-Mellor. “We want to work with each community on a one by one basis to build on some successes.”
She admits in order to achieve these goals, it will require a lot more close collaboration between the province and northern communities.
“I think that is the best way to go. I am currently not seeing anything at all and I want to at least see an attempt,” she said.
The pledges to northern Saskatchewan are a part of Beaudry-Mellor’s main campaign pillars to build Saskatchewan’s economy and provide smart social investments.
At this point, Beaudry-Mellor is the only SaskParty leadership hopeful to release a platform promise specifically devoted to northern Saskatchewan.
The SaskParty is expected to select its new leader in January after Premier Brad Wall announced his retirement in August.
Ken Chevaldayoff, Alanna Koch, Scott Moe and Gordon Wyant are the other SaskParty MLA’s running for leadership.