Gordon Wyant, Cynthia Block announce Saskatoon mayoral campaigns
Both candidates also unveiled their platforms Monday
Two high profile candidates have announced they will join the mayoral race in Saskatoon.
Ward 6 Coun. Cynthia Block made the announcement at an event this morning, the first in a pair of "special announcements" that were teased last week.
Gordon Wyant, who was serving as MLA for Saskatoon Northwest, announced his mayoral campaign at an event on Monday afternoon.
Block has served as a councillor since first being elected in 2016 and, according to a profile on the City of Saskatoon's website, has been a resident of Ward 6 for more than 25 years.
She is a former journalist and graduate of the University of Saskatchewan.
Block released five key priorities that she wants to focus on if she is elected as mayor:
- The basics: Properly funding basic infrastructure, roads, sidewalks and good services as well as addressing safety.
- Housing and homelessness: Addressing the crisis in affordability and lack of housing by creating a mayoral task force on homelessness. The task force will bring together service provides, community organizers, residents and those experiencing homelessness.
- Modernizing: Create better, modern public transportation as well as prioritizing active transportation.
- Acting on reconciliation and inclusion.
- Revitalizing downtown: Drive residents and amenities to the core. Continue with the planned downtown event and entertainment district.
Block described a future for Saskatoon where the city is viewed as a "shining leader on the prairies."
"We need to re-imagine our city to meet the challenges of our time, so that Saskatoon can be a modern, progressive city, where everyone feels welcome, supported and sees a bright future for themselves and their families," Block said.
Wyant paints himself as right candidate for the job
Standing at a lectern with the phrases "Safe Streets" and "Smart Spending" behind him, Wyant told media on Monday that he views himself as the right choice for Saskatoon.
"I'm here to clear up one of the worst kept secrets in Saskatoon: I am indeed running to be your mayor," Wyant said.
Monday's announcement comes after Wyant was acclaimed as a candidate for the Saskatchewan Party in September.
In May, he announced that he would not not seek re-election. On Monday, Wyant said he'd resigned as MLA effective immediately.
Wyant said his campaign is founded on three pillars:
- Public Safety: Wyant says safety is a right for all citizens and safe streets means a better quality of life for everyone.
- Affordability: Wyant described the 6.05 per cent property tax increase in 2024 as "unsustainable" for families and businesses. Wyant says he wants to "rethink" how the City of Saskatoon budget is set while providing certainty and creating a competitive economy.
- Transparency: Wyant says he wants to make it easier for the public to access and interact with council.
"This is our chance to build a city that just doesn't serve us today but creates our legacy for our children and grandchildren," Wyant said.
Wyant was born and raised in Saskatoon. He was first elected as an MLA in 2010 and — as he touted in his announcement — Wyant has served as the province's minister of advanced education, minister of justice and minister of education.
Prior to that, Wyant was elected as the city councillor for Ward 5 in Saskatoon three times, in 2003, 2006 and 2009.
Wyant touted his close ties to the Saskatchewan Party, but made a point of distancing himself from one of the provincial government's most controversial policies.
Saskatchewan's Parents' Bill of Rights was introduced and passed in 2023. It mandates that school staff get parental consent before using a student's new name or gender identity. Although the legislature invoked the notwithstanding clause, it remains under court challenge.
On Monday, Wyant said that he did not vote for the Parents' Bill of Rights and that he "wasn't supportive of the legislation and the way it was brought forward." The record shows Wyant did vote in favour of the bill on its first two readings, but did not vote on the third and final reading, when it was officially passed.
Wyant said he participated in "pretty much" every pride parade when he was a member of Saskatoon city council and hopes to continue that practice.
Queen City Pride and Prince Albert Pride have already banned Saskatchewan Party members from taking part in their events event in response to the legislation.
Saskatoon Pride announced last week it would ban any Saskatchewan Party members who voted in favour of the bill.
The two announcements come after sitting Mayor Charle Clark announced in January that he would not seek re-election after serving since 2016.
Cary Tarasoff has announced he also plans to run for mayor.
Tarasoff placed fourth when he ran for mayor in 2020.
Elections for urban municipalities in Saskatchewan are scheduled for Nov. 13, 2024.
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