On opportunities

Based on recent history, an election campaign seems to be inevitably dominated primarily by discussion of negatives. And unfortunately, much of the promise held by Saskatchewan's current campaign seems to have been lost in the shuffle. But with the election close at hand, let's take a few minutes to remember the positive choices at stake.

Tomorrow, voters have the choice to place Saskatchewan at the forefront of the evolution of Canada's public health care system through a universal prescription drug plan. Instead of limiting coverage for the fastest-growing component of health care costs to a quarter of the population, our province could lead the way in declaring that all residents have access to a vital aspect of health care at a manageable price - while also making needed investments in new surgical facilities to strengthen an already-improving health care system.

Tomorrow, voters have the choice to endorse a citizen's assembly which could modernize the way Saskatchewan chooses its leaders - and the outcome of that assembly could be felt for many elections to come. Instead of a third party feeling the need to pretend the election has been decided early in the campaign in a desperate bid for relevance, it could enjoy the opportunity to receive seats in proportion to its popular support; instead of being largely ignored, smaller parties could have the opportunity to hold real power.

Tomorrow, voters have the choice to put their vote behind a continued leadership role in the development of wind, solar and other green energy opportunities - both through SaskPower's own investments, and through independent developments which receive credit under a reverse metering system.

Tomorrow, voters have the choice to support investments in infrastructure, research and development which will help to ensure that Saskatchewan's prosperity lasts far past the current resource boom.

And tomorrow, voters have the choice to make sure that the benefits of Saskatchewan's boom are spread to the province's population as a whole - through reduced tuition which benefits all students, tax rebates which benefit all residents, an increased minimum wage to ensure that all workers receive a boost from the province's economic expansion, and the continued provision of the lowest utility costs in the country.

In sum, the election is indeed about opportunities as well as risks, hopes as well as fears. And one of the greatest risks of all lies in the fact that by this time tomorrow, the most significant set of progressive policy proposals offered to Saskatchewan voters in decades may have passed us by.

Fortunately, there's still time for voters to decide to vote for the possibilities in front of them - along with the reassurance that the province will remain in capable hands for another term. And the more voters who take that opportunity, the better off the province will be.