Linda Osachoff of Canora was elected by acclamation as the Saskatchewan NDP president at the Saskatchewan NDP Annual Convention in Saskatoon on October 12 to 14.
“I’m thrilled to be the new president and I am the first president from outside Saskatoon and Regina in quite some time,” said Osachoff. “Our executive became more inclusive as well, creating room for two more vice-presidents from outside the major urban centres.”
Osachoff said her extensive experience in a number of senior leadership positions in various organizations will be valuable in her new position.
“My term is for two years and the annual convention where I was acclaimed really was the unofficial kick-off to the next election scheduled for 2020,” she said.
“I see my role as providing efficient, inclusive, leadership to our executive and our provincial council. I want to bring people together.
“I want to be a presence in local constituency ridings and help prepare them for the upcoming election, which I believe to be the most important in a generation. And I want to support our leader, Ryan Meili and our caucus, in the great work they are doing, and the larger work ahead.”
Osachoff, a long-time resident of Canora, said she expects to call upon her rural background to help improve the performance of the NDP in rural areas.
“We have some work to do to return rural seats to the NDP,” she said. “I believe Ryan and his team are on the right track. It's about community building, bringing people together. The announcements about ReNew Saskatchewan and discussions about ways to bring STC (Saskatchewan Transportation Company) back are just the beginning. So many of our delegates were from rural and northern Saskatchewan and are really being hit personally by the lack of public transportation. A $15 per hour minimum wage and Pharmacare were also policy items that were discussed at the convention.
“Rural communities have many of the same concerns as their urban and northern neighbours, including: infrastructure, health care, education and others. The Ag and Rural Committee, formed within the last couple of years, has done an amazing role of creating outreach, talking to folks, and bringing those concerns back to the party.
Osachoff said the ReNew Saskatchewan is an NDP program that would ease the transition to renewable energy sources for homes and businesses.
She said she looks forward to working with Meili in bringing people together.
“It's great to see a leader who not only keeps government accountable through his role as Leader of the Opposition, but offers practical, concrete solutions to so many of the issues we see today.
I think people are tired of polarized politics; either being for or against an issue. They want to see a roadmap, a plan, a pragmatic way of moving forward.
“I am sensing a shift and ever growing desire for change. Fiscal responsibility. Building a healthier society from the ground up. Opportunity. Sustainability. I am proud and excited to be a part of this movement,” Osachoff concluded.
