Caronport businessman Blaine McLeod has dealt with politics in the dairy industry for more than four decades and believes that experience can also translate into handling the politics at the provincial legislature.
McLeod is running to become the new MLA for the Lumsden-Morse constituency after 24-year politician Lyle Stewart resigned in March due to health reasons.
He has lived in Caron for 48 years and has been a dairy farmer in Caronport for 42 years, where he operates Caroncrest Farms Ltd. with his two sons.
McLeod and two other candidates will speak to Sask. Party members during the nomination meeting on Thursday, June 8, at the Heritage Inn in Moose Jaw.
“The interest has always been there for politics … ,” he said. “And I have a desire to serve the constituency in whatever way I can.”
Agriculture, education, health care and the economy are the four pillars of McLeod’s platform.
Agriculture
He pointed out that agriculture is the backbone of his platform, of the province and in the constituency and he wants to ensure the Sask. Party makes that industry a priority in everything it does.
There’s plenty of talk about sustainability in agriculture, but McLeod said he prefers to talk about economic sustainability instead. That makes more sense to him because farmers have been focusing on that aspect for generations and don’t receive enough credit for the good work they’ve done.
“It’s not like we need to tear down what’s happening. What we’ve done in Saskatchewan has vindicated sustainability for a long, long time … ,” he said, adding engagement must continue at the provincial and federal levels to provide backstop programs to support producers.
Education
McLeod has two daughters-in-law who are teachers. They regularly tell him that more support could and should be given to the industry to help meet students’ diverse needs. Students who need help are slipping through the cracks because of classroom sizes and underfunding.
McLeod thought the province needed to fund education at a higher level above the status quo, especially since school divisions are facing troubles with inflation.
Health care
McLeod has a daughter who is a nurse, while some of his campaign team members also work in health care. He believes the province could more efficiently spend money in this industry and provide expedient care.
“Just getting put on a waiting list is not health care. Those waiting lists need to disappear … ,” he said. “I’m fully in favour of entirely publicly funded health care; I also in that equation say there’s room for private delivery but publicly funded.”
Economy
For decades people left Saskatchewan looking for jobs elsewhere, but McLeod believes the Sask. Party turned around that problem and made this province a desirable place to work. He also thinks the government needs to make the economy work for everyone.
McLeod says the province must add value to every item that leaves instead of just exporting raw products. He pointed out companies are building canola-crushing plants in the province, allowing Saskatchewan to import canola to crush before exporting it for sale.
Personal qualities
McLeod believes party members should vote for him because of his dedicated commitment to the community. Over the years, he has served on school boards, church boards, clubs, and organizations.
Furthermore, he has engaged with the dairy industry for decades, including with Sask. Milk and the Dairy Farmers of Canada, while he has acquired good governance training through these experiences.
“I very much desire to be a politician that brings integrity and transparency to the role — and availability as well … ,” he added. “The hard work that has made me successful as a dairy farmer will translate into a career as an MLA.”
Blaine McLeod’s campaign can be found on Facebook.
