Carla Beck is energized by the greater Sask. NDP caucus, despite election defeat

The leader of Saskatchewan’s opposition says she is ready to take on Premier Scott Moe in the legislature after her party lost Monday’s election but significantly expanded its ranks.

The NDP’s Carla Beck said Thursday she plans to continue pushing for better health care and education, while also holding Moe’s Saskatchewan Party accountable for affordability issues, rising crime rates and economic stagnation in some sectors.

“I feel good, energetic and ready to go,” Beck said in an interview. “And I’m very proud of the work the team has done.”

The NDP opposition is expected to be Saskatchewan’s largest in nearly two decades. It is on course to gain 27 seats in the 61-seat parliament, short of the 31 needed to form a majority.

The New Democrats are expected to defeat Regina, take all but one seat in Saskatoon and hold the two northern seats, while failing to capture any other rural seats.

Beck says she will continue to build relationships with rural communities to bridge the gap.

“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 come face to face with someone who’s a New Democrat in a very long time,” she says. said.

“We’ve seen a lot of that in this campaign, and we’ve also seen people who – when they met our candidates and saw our message – said, ‘This time I’m going to vote for you.’”

Beck failed to win seats in the smaller cities of Prince Albert and Moose Jaw, which are crucial if her party wants to form government next time.

She says lessons can be learned, and while the party will continue to look back on this election, “we will look forward quickly and want to build.”

Her initial disappointment at the loss was also quickly overshadowed by the party’s performance in increasing its number of seats, she says.

“I still believe that if you look for division you will find it, but if you look for common ground you will find a lot of that too,” she said.

Moe, whose party is expected to win 34 seats, was not available for an interview Thursday.

A spokesperson for his office said in an email that Moe has met with newly elected members of the government and is making plans for a new Cabinet and legislative session.

Moe is expected to lose Saskatoon Cabinet Ministers Bronwyn Eyre and Paul Merriman, along with Laura Ross, Christine Tell and Gene Makowsky of Regina.

On social media Thursday, Moe wrote that people voted for “a strong economy and a bright future,” while others voted for change. “Our new government will achieve both,” he wrote.

In his victory speech, he told supporters he had to do better. He said he heard the message that there is unhappiness in the way the province delivers health care, education and affordability.

With her expanded caucus, Beck says, she will lead by example and ensure her members can hold their own.

“Let people shine,” she said. “We have an incredibly smart group of people, really dedicated people who are connected to their community.

“The people of Saskatchewan will benefit from the integrity and work ethic that these new MLAs will bring.”