Peter Prebble (former Cabinet Minister)
Today it is my pleasure to endorse Ryan Meili as my first choice for leader of Saskatchewan’s New Democratic Party.
Ryan has demonstrated an understanding of urban and rural concerns and he has strong roots in both rural and urban Saskatchewan. He will be a leader who all Saskatchewan people will enjoy getting to know and work with.
Ryan brings to the leadership race an understanding and passion for two of the issues I believe to be central to the future of our province. The first is the need to protect Saskatchewan’s environment for future generations. The second is the importance of putting in place government policies that will end hunger and sharply reduce poverty. Ryan’s commitment to these causes is evident in the priorities he has set in his own life and in his campaign themes.
Ryan also brings with him a keen understanding of one of the political issues that is highest on the priority list of Saskatchewan people – health care. As a doctor who has practiced in low income neighborhoods, in small towns and in northern Saskatchewan, he understands the health care needs of all Saskatchewan people. He has a deep commitment to protecting medicare and continuously improving it by building a health care system that is more preventive, more wholistic and more effective in delivering good quality health care to everyone.
Ryan understands the needs of the volunteer, non-profit sector in our province and has been involved in many social causes He will be a friend and ally to all those seeking to advance the cause of volunteerism and to better Saskatchewan society through non-profit work.
Ryan has demonstrated an ability to think globally and act locally. He looks at the big picture and thinks about what is good for the wellbeing of the planet as well as what is best for the people of Saskatchewan and he will weave the two together in shaping direction for the future. A good example of this is his determination to see Saskatchewan play an important role in tackling global climate change.
Since his election to office, Premier Brad Wall has signaled he will abandon Saskatchewan’s target of a 32% reduction in greenhouse gas pollution by 2020. Already Premier Wall has closed the Office of Energy Conservation, dismantled the Climate Change Secretariat and cancelled the vast bulk of monies in the Green Future Fund which was set up to help Saskatchewan people reduce greenhouse gas pollution. As a future leader of our government, Ryan Meili will make sure all those measures are reversed. Even more important, he will move forward quickly with a practical and cost effective plan for reducing greenhouse gas pollution – a priority that must be adopted by jurisdictions around the world if we are to avoid ecological disaster and a major decline in the quality of life in many parts of our planet.
One of the important reasons I am supporting Ryan is that he is committed to building a renewable energy future for the people of Saskatchewan. He will move forward with several measures I feel are essential to a secure and sustainable energy future, including a large increase in wind power, a strong emphasis on electricity efficiency and the development of our solar, biomass and small scale hydro resources.
Ryan understands that we have to make choices about our electricity future – there is not enough money to pursue all paths simultaneously. He is the only candidate in the NDP race who is wisely opposing a nuclear power plant in Saskatchewan Ryan recognizes that at more than 18 cents a kilowatt hour to build, repair, and decommission a reactor, nuclear power will drive up electricity prices while at the same time gobbling up all the resources that should instead be spent on renewable energy development. Large scale wind power is 7-8 cents per kilowatt hour, electricity conservation is only 5 cents per kilowatt hour. Ryan understands that wind power and energy efficiency can deliver much greater greenhouse gas pollution reductions for the money spent than can a nuclear reactor, and without the health and safety risks that a reactor presents.
Ryan Meili is standing for an energy future that I believe in and I will look forward to working with him to help build it.
It is my privilege to support Ryan Meili for the next leader of the New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan.
Peter Prebble,
March 5, 2009
About Peter
Peter Prebble served as a Member of the Saskatchewan Legislature representing east side Saskatoon constituencies for 16 years. During that period he represented the constituencies of Saskatoon Greystone, Saskatoon University and Saskatoon Sutherland. Mr. Prebble served as a Cabinet Minister in Premier Lorne Calvert's government and held posts that included Minister of Corrections and Public Safety, Minister of Saskatchewan Water Corporation, Minister Responsible for the Meewasin Valley Authority and Minister Responsible for the Public Service Commission. He also served as Premier Calvert's Legislative Secretary for Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Development. In February of 2006 Peter Prebble announced he would be retiring from provincial politics and did not seek re-election in 2007. Peter Prebble has been actively involved in the Saskatchewan environmental movement for over 30 years. Since stepping down from politics he has focussed his energies on issues related to climate change, renewable energy and water policy.
