March 18, 2024 | Advertise with us

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Good morning and happy Monday! March 18 is Global Recycling Day, so let’s recycle a terrible St. Patrick’s Day joke from yesterday. How do leprechauns work out? They push their luck!

Here’s The SKoop for today:

• The Saskatchewan Party maintains their vote intention lead according to new polling from Angus Reid,

• NDP candidate nominated in Batoche, and

• Teachers raise the stakes of job action.

P.S. Please share The SKoop with your networks. At the bottom of this email you will see a new referral section - share The SKoop and gain points towards winning prizes like gift cards and a pair of AirPods. Thanks!

Saskatchewan Spotlight: Sask. Party preferred on top issues, hold double-digit vote intention lead

Angus Reid released some provincial numbers over the weekend showing the vote intention of Saskatchewan residents. Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party holds 50% of popular support, down 11% from the 2020 election, while Carla Beck’s New Democrats are up 6 points from 2020 at 38% provincially. The newly formed Saskatchewan United Party was at 6% and “other” was at 6%.

While Moe’s government remains popular and the likely favourite to win the upcoming election, the 2024 election is on track to be the most competitive since 2007. The NDP is leading by large margins in both Saskatoon and Regina, while the Sask. Party maintains popularity in the province’s rural ridings.

When it comes to the issues, 65% of respondents think Moe has done a poor job of addressing the cost of living, 65% think the government has done a poor job of managing the healthcare system, and 62% of respondents think the government has done a poor job when it comes to the handling of the ongoing teacher strikes in the province. A majority of those polled said Moe is the best to handle the economy and received 53% personal approval. NDP leader Carla Beck has a 35% approval rating, with close to a fifth of people not having an opinion of her.

Of note: only two polling companies, Saskatoon-based Insightrix Research and Angus Reid, have done regular polling in Saskatchewan. Based on recently released polls, both companies have the Saskatchewan Party roughly within the same margin of error (50% support according to Angus Reid and 46% according to Insightrix), but Angus Reid has the NDP more than ten points lower compared to the Insightrix polling (38% Angus Reid compared to 49% according to Insightrix).

Polling will be closely watched by The SKoop as the election comes closer and closer.

(Angus Reid Institute)

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NDP Nominate Batoche Candidate

The Saskatchewan New Democrats have nominated Trina Miller as their candidate for Batoche.

Miller is a postal worker and former school board trustee with Prairie Spirit School Division and serves on various community boards. Miller said, “I am honoured to be the Saskatchewan NDP candidate here in Batoche,” said Miller. “Rural Saskatchewan has so much to offer and so much potential. Batoche needs an MLA and a government that will make life more affordable, address the rural healthcare crisis, and ensure a brighter future for Saskatchewan families.”

She is the 33rd candidate nominated by the NDP out of 61. The next nomination for the NDP will be Regina University on Thursday, March 21.

Sponsored by Insurance Brokers Association of Saskatchewan

Sask Teachers raise the stakes of job action this week

The Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation is announcing further job action following the government’s rejection of an offer to enter binding arbitration last week.

STF President Samantha Becotte said, “To put this in clear terms, if the government refuses binding arbitration, then Minister Cockrill and Premier Moe are choosing to cancel school trips, graduation planning, band festivals, Hoopla and so many more of this year’s activities that bring joy to our students and school communities.”

The actions announced for this week include rotating cancellation of noon-hour supervision. It is expected the STF will make a formal announcement of further job action related to extracurriculars this week. The government has made it clear it will not bargain on class size or complexity and will not agree to binding arbitration.

(Regina Leader-Post)

Sponsored by Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy

More news and info

• Obituary: Les Dube’s kindness and generosity made a lasting impact in Saskatoon (Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

• Register now for the Saskatchewan Public Affairs Forum on April 9th in Regina, hosted by the Saskatchewan chapter of Public Affairs Association of Canada!*

• Lake Diefenbaker announcement elicits different responses (980 CJME News)

• AI could have catastrophic consequences - is Canada ready? (CBC News)

_{*Sponsored content from Public Affairs Association of Canada - Saskatchewan Chapter.}

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