Mayor Greg Dionne stopped just short of endorsing Scott Moe for Saskatchewan Party leader, after meeting the candidate during a campaign visit Monday.
During their talk, Moe reiterated his support for a fully funded regional hospital in Prince Albert – as soon as the province gets its finances back in order.
Dionne was obviously pleased with that commitment. He declined to officially endorse Moe, but said he’s strongly leaning in the former environment minister’s direction.
“It’s always best to support the person in your backyard,” Dionne said of the Rosthern Shellbrook MLA. “I’m happy with Scott Moe.”
The mayor said that Moe is the only one who has made such a strong pledge to fund the hospital. He also has a soft spot for Gordon Wyant, who he said “hasn’t ever done me wrong.” But Moe has an “advantage” over the other candidates, since he frequently attends meetings to discuss local issues.
“He’s well versed on our city,” Dionne said.
Moe again raised the hospital issue during a stop at the Daily Herald offices, saying people across the region are pushing for a new hospital. He said patients from his home community of Shellbrook, and from the province’s north, rely on Prince Albert for health care.
“What we’re committing to is not a timeline, but an effort to ensure the provincial government would fund 100 per cent of that facility here in Prince Albert,” Moe said. “Now, the province has some work to do to ensure we get back to balance and get ourselves in good fiscal health, so we’re able to make investments.
“It would be what I would advocate for as premier.”
For more on this story, see the Tuesday, October 31 print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.
