Moose Jaw Green Party candidate North Hunter made the decision to go into politics because she is concerned about the future of not just the city of Moose Jaw, but also the rest of the world.
“I’m part of a generation that is more likely to die from climate change than old age [and] that’s why I’ve decided to go into politics now, to make a difference while I can,” said Hunter.
Hunter is one of three candidates running for the Moose Jaw North riding, offering what she feels is a positive alternative to the platforms of the incumbent Sask Party and long-standing opposition NDP.
She is joined by fellow Green Party candidate Abby Firlotte in the Moose Jaw Wakamow constituency, and 59 other Green Party candidates covering every riding in the province.
At 22 years old, Hunter is currently finishing a Bachelor of Health Studies at the University of Regina and has extensive volunteer and activist work under her belt, which she said is indicative of her desire to help all parts of the community if elected.
"Moose Jaw has a lot of really special parts to it," said Hunter. "I don't like seeing people unhappy [and] I want people to feel there's something to build onto, by inspiring each generation to make that community a better place, keep that sense of community going. I want people in Moose Jaw to feel connected to each other and to care about each other."
Firlotte, also in her early twenties, studied psychology at the University of Regina and is currently working as a care aide, with plenty of hours of her own volunteer and community work in the past. She was unable to speak with the Moose Jaw Express prior to Election Day.
For Hunter, the decision to pursue an MLA seat stems from a need to create a better future and the pressing urgency to act on climate change and other social issues prompted her into politics earlier than expected, in order to make a difference.
Both Hunter and Firlotte have chosen to join the Green Party because they want to see policy changes addressing climate change and social responsibility in the near future.
The Green Party is currently offering the most effective policy on climate change, said Hunter, as it supports the Paris Agreement, an international policy aiming to increase the global response to climate change and keep the annual temperature rise below two degrees Celsius — the lowest of any international policies currently proposed or supported by any other provincial parties.
"Saskatchewan has been at the root of some great historic change across Canada, with Tommy Douglas and medicare, [and] it's something I deeply admire," said Hunter. "I realized that Saskatchewan needs to be in the lead for environmental science and right now, we are not."
But Hunter’s focus isn’t solely on the environment, as she is also passionate about providing positive changes to Moose Jaw on a community level.
She highlighted the Green Party’s dedication to expanding universal Pharmacare to include dental, optical, mental health support and alternative medicine practices, as well as the promise to implement a guaranteed living wage for all residents and to increase quality and availability of child care and senior care.
"A lot of my volunteering in the past has been in nursing homes [so improving senior care] is an issue very important to me," said Hunter. "Image what kind of situation everyone in Moose Jaw could have, if they weren't worried about how they would pay their rent or bills. They could invest in small businesses, or start their own, and they wouldn't have to worry about doing what they want to do."
She also noted that the Green Party has a special interest in the agricultural industry and the preservation of grasslands, as well as providing universal access to Internet services in all rural areas.
Hunter also said that while many may not realize it, the Green Party’s platform is the most fiscally responsible in the long run, as it pledges to make better use of tax dollars in areas that citizens want them spent.
She went on to clarify that the Green Party, despite social perceptions, has more goals than just environmental advocacy, which would affect other areas of concern like mental health, the economy and taxation and social well-being.
"Abby and I are both running in Moose Jaw because we think there's a problem of unemployment, there are our concerns about taxes, concerns about what will happen with job creation," said Hunter. "If we focus on the environment, these are things we can address."
By running in Moose Jaw North and Wakamow respectively, Hunter and Firlotte are hoping to offer a more forward-thinking option for voters, especially for the younger demographic of voters who may be as concerned about their future as Hunter is about her own.
"I feel as if [the Green Party] are the ones who truly believe in helping people," said Hunter. "And that’s what I like about the Green Party platform, is that it is fiscally responsible and at the same time, it’s guaranteeing that everybody's needs are met."
More information on the Saskatchewan Green Party’s campaign platform can be found on the party’s website.
The provincial election will be held on Oct. 23.
