We had to make the trip from Leader back home
so that I could be at the forum last night because I thought, even though it is so
late in the election campaign, it is still very important for Tisdale people
to get a chance to see and hear the candidates first hand. I was definitely let down
when a woman walking ahead of me pointed to the sign on the RECPlex door and
told me the event was canceled Democracy can't be canceled and the Chamber of
Commerce must accept the shame of this event's failure.
As I stood in the cool sunlight people were arriving for the forum and they were
as upset as I.
Don Hovdebo was on hand and said that he had only learned of the cancellation
a short while earlier and it was due, according to what he was told, to some candidate
being unable to attend.
I had only a few moments to talk with the friendly NDP candidate as he made
a solid attempt to make himself available to each of the people who were milling
around, but who had been on their way to the canceled forum.
Mr. Hovdebo agreed to do a video standup for me and I set up my equipment
and then had the outstanding experience of meeting and talking with Don Hovdebo's
father Stan, who holds the distinction of succeeding John Diefenbaker
in the Prince Albert Riding. We chatted about the closeness of this competition
in this election and that several polls have indicated that it looks like a neck
and neck race between his son and the incumbent.
The positive response the NDP is getting across Canada in this election campaign
is giving the party and its supporters more hope than they have experienced since
1981 when they were able to elect more than forty members to parliament. The prime
minister was urging Ontario NDP supporters to vote for the government
or they might contribute to a conservative victory while the conservatives have discovered
growing support for the NDP in B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Stan Hovdebo said he had just been over to Russell and was pleased to see
an old conservative friend, Inky Mark, doing well in his riding. Inky Mark
is running as an independent just as four others are doing here in Saskatchewan
with three of them looking pretty good now, only a few days from the election. Both
he and I agreed that indeed, this was a really interesting election. He said he had
just moved back to Saskatchewan after having lived in Kingston and
another House of Commons friend, Sheila Copps has had a big effect on Southern
Ontario voters as it looks like the Minister of Transport who appeared
to have used underhanded means to win the nomination is unlikely to be elected.
Though I was very disappointed at the forum being canceled I went home pleased that
I had met both Don Hovdebo and his father. In addition I have the video clip
for you so that you can by this medium get to know a little about Don Hovdebo
who has a good chance of being your new member of parliament.
