So far, the election seems like it will be another interesting one.  Victor Becker Lau has already come out swinging, pointing out four major issues that affect the constituency.  In Becker Lau’s mind, nuclear power, poverty, affordable education and electoral reform are going to be key issues in this by-election.  Larissa Shasko (Leader of the Saskatchewan Green Party) fired a well-timed salvo at the Saskatchewan Liberal Party, stating that “A two-party system between the NDP and the SaskParty is failing the environmental and social aspirations of the people of Saskatchewan.”

To his credit, Dwain Lingenfelter has done his best to come across as a statesman, a role which Lorne Calvert never seemed quite comfortable accepting.  On the Provincial N.D.P’s web site, Lingenfelter diplomatically noted that, “many people, such as farmers, students, working men and women, Seniors and the economically-challenged are not seeing that prosperity.  We will be the voice of fair and equal treatment.” Decidedly N.D.P., that statement has a certain ‘third wave’ voice that seriously reminds me of something Roy Romanow would have said.

It will be very interesting to see who will get the Sask Party nomination and what will happen during the run-up to the election.  While Regina Douglas Park is considered prime N.D.P. territory, the Saskatchewan Party will certainly try to send Lingenfelter packing.  A Saskatchewan Party win would be a major blow to the New Democrats and to Dwain Lingenfelter.  Be sure to watch this space (or subscribe to our RSS feed) to keep track of this race – it is going to be a good one!

 For instance, let’s say that you’re sitting at your computer when you hear a knock at your door. You get up, open the door and see a politician running in a local election. Now let’s say you’re sitting at your computer and you see that the same politician is following your twitter account, or has added you as a friend on Facebook; or maybe they made a comment on your blog. To which are you more receptive?

 Consider how great the influence of social media on the global political scale. There are several countries around the world that have placed grave restrictions on freedom of speech, the freedom of dissent, and on independent media and engaged citizens. Places that are currently in a state of social upheaval, but where people face restrictions in speaking out, are using social media as a way to get their voices heard. This is happening in China, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Palestine, Russia … even in Mongolia to a certain extent.

 In locations where government seeks to commit repugnant acts against its residents without impunity, social media is facilitating the circumvention of restrictions, once again giving rise to the voice of the populace – whose views are neither valued not wanted by oppressive regimes that seek to silence them.

 However, is this access to the world (through the internet) changing the ways in which governments act and create policy? To be continued…

 I think that partisanship is both detrimental and ridiculous, in politics and in life. Take this magazine. Do I have to be on the left to talk about the causes and effects of poverty? Do I have to be on the right to have a strong corporate business model and believe in microdevelopment? Absolutely not.

The Regina Streets Magazine has always been staunchly non-partisan because we value the opinions of more than one ‘perceived’ side of a coin. To create better dialogue, debate, and most importantly, change – we must set aside the words and attitudes that partisanship embodies, and work together. I can only give purposeful effort, and hope that one day I’ll get the opportunity to work for this change together with you…

 Will the Supreme Court actually re-examine portions of Canada’s same-sex marriage law at the bequest of Brad Wall and the governing party? My question to you is how religion and equality should be reconciled in this case. Should religious figures be bound by law to perform same-sex marriage, or should it be their right to respectfully decline the request?

 I think that this is a reasonable debate to engage in. I think this discussion has merit in a free democracy that values the law, and respects the right of all residents of Canada to hold their own point of view… and I invite you to participate…

Additionally, I do think what Saskatchewan’s ruling party is doing presents a good opportunity to have broader conversations and debates. Such as a newly invigorated examination of how to reconcile Canada’s Freedom of Religion with our equally important right to be free from discrimination, as legally outlined in Section 15 of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Before we go and spout off about how right or wrong same-sex marriage is, let us remember that it is a legal right both to marry the person of one’s consensual choosing, but also to be free from hateful commentary about an indemonstrable part of their identity. This has been clearly stated by the highest law of Canada, and I would humbly submit that our government has bigger fish to fry.

Sure, they have a Twitter presence, blogs and RSS. And unlike the provincial N.D.P., they at least have enough good sense to get their leader’s name correct on their web site. But, I still cannot find a word about our planet anywhere on their site. Their leader, Ryan Bater managed to write an article about nuclear energy without once referring to the environment!

Is this how the Saskatchewan Liberal party plans to distance itself from Dion’s disastrous Green Shit Shift?  Or are they just out of touch with reality?  Global warming is not going away unless our generation of leaders makes it go away.  And here is a major party that does not express an environmental agenda anywhere on its otherwise top notch web site.

Perhaps it is an oversight?  Problem is their site is otherwise perfectly designed and should be a model to the other two major parties.  I doubt that a party that would put that much effort into its web presence would ‘forget’ to mention a major part of its platform.

I can’t come up with any good excuses, but I’m not much of a PR guy.  Why do you think the Prairie Liberals do not mention the environment on their web site?