Carla Beck announces campaign for Saskatchewan NDP leadership

Carla Beck is running for the leadership of the Saskatchewan NDP, making her the first candidate to announce a bid for the job after current leader Ryan Meili signaled last month that he will be stepping down.

Beck's made the announcement Thursday at Xtended Hydraulics & Machine in Emerald Park, east of Regina.

The MLA for Regina Lakeviewwas introduced by Regina MLAsNicole Sarauer, Trent Wotherspoonand Aleana Young.

Beck said the support of her three colleagues meant a lot, but that her campaign was not only about her. She spent much of her speech expressing the need to unite her party and attract new supporters.

"No matter where you live. No matter how long you or your family have called this province home. No matter who you voted for in the last election. If you have had enough of this government and want better, I want you to know we hear you and we want to keep hearing from you," Beck said.

An MLA since 2016, Beck has served as deputy leader and most recently the opposition critic for education.

Beck grew up on a farm near Lang, southeast of Regina. Prior to entering the legislature, Beck worked for more than 20 years as a social worker and was a trustee on the Regina Public School Board.

She said she plans to show voters the NDP is "ready to govern and deliver again."

"A growing number of people are worried about the direction our province is heading. They're tired of Scott Moe and his tired Sask. Party government, and they're looking for change."

The NDP has never had a woman win the leadership. Former Moose Jaw MLA Deb Higgins finished fourth on the first ballot in the2009 leadership contest.Sarauer was the interim leader in 2017 and 2018.

"I know this is something new for the party, having a female leader would be something different. The words we are saying are different. But I know I have to be able to go out and demonstrate that strength, demonstrate my ability to bring people together, and that's what I'm committed to doing,"

Beck said she plans to travel the province from now until the leadership vote in June.

Meili announced on Feb. 18 following the Saskatchewan Party's victory in the Athabasca byelection where they captured a seat held by the NDP since 1998 that he would step down as leader of the provincial NDP.

In the last two weeks, Sarauer and Wotherspoon have said they would not run for leadership and endorsed a potential Beck candidacy last weekend. Young had not ruled out running but pledged her support for Beck on Thursday.

"Carla Beck is the only person who can unite our party, build support across our province truly across our province and lead our party to a place where we can really make a difference again," Young said.

Sarauercalled Beck "progressive" and "pragmatic."

The NDP will hold its leadership vote in late June in Regina.

To enter the race, leadership hopefuls must be members in good standing and meet the following requirements:

• Signatures of at least 100 members half of whom must be women or gender diverse from at least 20 constituencies.
• A non-refundable $4,000 registration fee.
• Observe a campaign expenditure limit of $200,000.
• Receive approval from the Saskatchewan NDP.

Party members will be able to cast their votes online or by mail-in ballot.