The Cugnet Centre was the chosen location for the Weyburn Debate of the Saskatchewan Leadership Race last night.

Hundreds of people took their seats to hear what the six candidates had to say.

Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Scott Moe, Rob Clarke, Ken Chevelldayoff, Allana Koch and Gord Wyant took to the stage with one of the founding members of the Saskatchewan Party, Ken Krawetz who was the one asking the questions and keeping order.

Each candidate had one minute for an opening statement, one minute to answer each question asked and one minute to respond if they have been directly mentioned in someone else's response unless they have already had an additional minute. Each candidate had up to four additional responses allowed for the whole debate.

There were twelve questions asked and each candidate took it in turns in a rotating order, taking it in turns to be the first person to answer.

The candidates were asked questions along the lines of:

  • Weyburn Hospital timeline
  • Disability programs in Saskatchewan
  • Reaching the young voters of the province
  • Education investment
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Ensuring the best candidates for MLA's for the 2020 election
  • Agriculture
  • Adequate support for Educators in schools
  • Heritage Fund
  • Engaging with other MLA's
  • The number one issue to be dealt with when elected as Sask. Party Leader and Premier.
  • How to engage the support and respect from other Sask Party Candidates to form a united leadership.

Candidates acknowledged the importance of the Weyburn Hospital to the community.

Beaudry-Mellor said the amalgamation of the health regions to a single health authority would allow for an inventory to be taken of what is needed in terms of infrastructure, mentioning the possibility of a private equity fund.

Moe said he has experience in being on the fundraising committee as a volunteer to see a hospital being built in his own community.

"We need to move on this hospital when we are able," said Moe.

Clarke said hospitals are important everywhere.

"If the money is there in the budget and is available and we can do this, we should build a hospital as soon as possible."

Chevelldayoff congratulated the Weyburn Hospital Foundation and the community for all the work that's been done so far.

"Health care is a priority, growing the economy is the way to get there," explained Chevelldayoff.

Koch also congratulated the successful fundraising campaign.

"When we have a balanced budget we could move ahead with building a hospital here in Weyburn," said Koch

Wyant talked about looking at different funding models.

"Moving into a single health region in this province will give us the opportunity to review what our capital requirements are across the province."

The number one issue question led to some of the candidates giving similar answers. Some gave unique answers. 

Chevelldayoff said to grow the economy in order to be able to pay for the services that help people. He proposed setting up a commission that would have 60 days to look at all provincial taxes to make sure the province is competitive across the nation.

Koch also said she would want to focus on the growth of the economy in order to be able to invest in the services needed to help others.

Wyant said he would want to tackle mental illness as the most important issue he would want to deal with. Helping residents of the province to deal with mental health and addictions would, in turn, boost the economy as people become more productive.

Beaudry-Mellor said the most important thing to do is to build a unified team and mine the ideas which have been put forward from the campaign.

Moe said he would want to bring the caucus together to build the team that would lead the party into winning the 2020 election.

Clarke proposed a $100 million stimulus package, put more police officers on the street, set up a gang task force to 'crush' them, 'to make the streets safe.'

The candidate's next debate, the last debate is next Thursday in Regina. The deadline for those wanting to buy a Saskatchewan Party Membership is December 8th.

Anyone with a permanent residence or Canadian citizenship over the age of 18, can vote in the Saskatchewan party leadership election.