MP Georgina Jolibois and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in La Ronge. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

federal election

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh touring northern constituency this week

May 21, 2019 | 2:58 PM

New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh was in La Ronge today as part of a short tour of the Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River constituency.

“I want folks to know the north is very important to me [and] that Georgina Jolibois is an incredible member of our team,” he said. “We are going to fight for people. No matter what, we’re going to make sure they’re always put first. We’ve seen too much prioritizing of the powerful and the wealthy over everyday people.”

Singh began his tour of the riding Monday with a visit to Stanley Mission, before spending today in La Ronge with stops at the Scattered Site Outreach Program and Northlands College. A meet and greet with local elders and residents will be held at 4 p.m. at the La Ronge Senior Citizens Club. Jolibois and Singh will both be in Meadow Lake Wednesday for another community event at 132 Centre Street at 12 p.m.

Some of the issues Singh stated constituents should be aware of are the NDP’s stance on housing and medicine. If elected to form government in October, he said the party would build 500,000 affordable homes in Canada. Singh added there’s a scarcity of homes in general, as well as those that are of higher quality. As for medicine, he believes coverage should be accessible to all Canadians regardless of costs.

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“We want to make sure there is medication coverage all across this country for everyone,” Singh said. “Our plan is with your health card, if you need medications, all you need is your heath card, not a credit card. We really believe in that.”

Scattered Site in La Ronge was one place NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh stopped. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

As for the Liberals carbon tax, which Gary Vidal told larongeNOW last week the Conservatives would repeal if elected, Singh mentioned there has to be a price on pollution. He believes, however, the Liberals haven’t implemented the tax in the right way, noting every day families are being hurt while the biggest polluters are exempt. If elected, he pledged to change the way the tax is implemented.

Singh is also confident he has what it takes to serve the large Indigenous population in the riding. He pointed to NDP MP Romeo Saganash’s private member’s bill the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People Act as proof the party treats Indigenous issues seriously.

“We can’t have a fair country, we can’t have justice in this country, without justice for the First Peoples of this land,” Singh said. “That means making sure Indigenous Peoples know there is a champion on their side who is going to fight for them and that’s Georgina Jolibois locally, that’s me nationally.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will also be visiting the constituency this week with a stop May 23 in Meadow Lake. He’ll be there with Liberal candidate and Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson as she launches her election campaign. The event will be held 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Meadow Lake Civic Centre.

The federal election is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2019.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno