Lon Borgerson (former Cabinet Minister)
This is an exciting time for Saskatchewan New Democrats. We are, of course, in the process of electing a new leader for a party that has a history of great leaders... and great premiers.
Each of these leaders with a unique style and personality; each of them growing into the role of leader and premier. Each of them leaving a distinct legacy for the people of this province.
So in just three months we will choose our next leader...and our next premier. And I believe it will be someone new to provincial politics - someone young, bright, principled. Someone whose work and beliefs are rooted firmly in the social democratic tradition of the NDP.
I believe that next leader should be, and will be, Ryan Meili...And I am here today, along with my good friend, Peter Prebble, offering my support.
Ryan will be a leader who will shift the tone and tenor of the Assembly, who will stand apart from adversarial politics and speak with passion and principle. And I think this is what people want....A politics that is free of rhetoric and gamesmanship and leaders who generate hope, not cynicism. They want the genuine article, and I think they will find that in Ryan Meili.
From his farm upbringing, to his work in the inner city of Saskatoon. From his international work in Central America and Mozambique to his social justice work in Saskatoon’s west end. From his work in rural communities to his connections with FN and Metis people in northern Saskatchewan.... Ryan has walked the talk.
He believes in community development and social justice...
He believes in a strong future for towns and villages and the family farm...
And he believes in rural renewal and revitalization.
This is why I have decided to support him.
The media, of course, will focus on the leadership contest, but you should know that, in meeting halls and living rooms; in cars and kitchens; by phone, mail, and internet...there is a policy discussion occurring throughout this leadership race. So this press conference isn’t just about Ryan Meili’s candidacy; it’s about the future we see with Ryan as the leader of our party.
It is a future of renewable energy, building on our most abundant natural resources, the ones we take most for granted - the wind and sun. As President Obama said in his speech to Congress last week, “We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century.”
In the year 2020, 20% of Europe’s electrical needs will be met by renewables - by wind, solar, biomass, district heating, geothermal...Countries like Denmark will be at 30%. And, if President Obama is successful, the United States will be close behind. Obama’s budget invests $15B a year, as he says “to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy.” Let me repeat that: ”the profitable kind of energy...”.
A couple of years ago, I remember a European energy analyst saying to me: “We’re going to develop renewable technology and then sell it to the slow starters.” So, here’s the question: In 2020, where will SK be? Will we have kept pace with the profitable kind of energy, renewable energy, or will we be one of the slow starters?”
Let’s be clear. If the Saskatchewan Party has its way, all of our eggs will end up in a nuclear basket. And, in 2020, we’ll be cutting the ribbon on a multi-billion dollar, taxpayer-subsidized nuclear reactor, with huge cost over runs and toxic waste that no one knows how to dispose of...or pay for. Like the $14 billion dollar debt that the Devine Conservatives left us, this will be the legacy of debt that the SP will leave us. And we’ll be wondering how we will ever catch up to Europe and the U.S. We’ll be one of the slow starters, lining up to buy renewable technologies from those who got there first.
I am supporting Ryan because he has a very different vision of our energy future...because he envisions a landscape where we add the value of electricity to our abundance of wind and sun. Where wind turbines will be as common and iconic as grain elevators once were. Where solar panels will line our highways and tilt from our rooftops. Where we will empower citizens and communities to generate their own power and add it to the grid. Where we will reduce our use of fossil fuels by growing more of our own food, instead of importing most of it as we do now.
I support Ryan Meili because his vision for energy in this province is environmentally responsible and economically wise.
And I look forward to his leadership of the New Democratic Party.
Lon Borgerson,
March 5, 2009
About Lon:
Lon grew up on a family farm near Rockglen and was involved with the NDY and NFU. He attended the University of Saskatchewan, eventually earning a B.A. , B.Ed. and M.Ed. He served as a teacher and principal, then worked for many years as a faculty member, program coordinator and university instructor at Prince Albert's SUNTEP center. Throughout his years as an educator, he has been a director/co-creator of numerous Aboriginal theatre productions with Upisasik Theatre, Suntep Theatre and the Batoche Theatre Company. He served as a board director for the Saskatchewan Arts Board and on the first advisory committee for CTV's Indigenous Circle. In 2003, Lon was elected as MLA for the constituency of Saskatchewan Rivers. In 2006, he was appointed Legislative Secretary for Organic Farming, which resulted in Going Organic: A Report on the Opportunities for Organic Agriculture in Saskatchewan (2007). In 2007, he was appointed as Minister for Regional Economic and Cooperative Development. Since his defeat in the 2007 provincial election, Lon has served as a director of education for Ile-a-la-Crosse. He is married to Val Drummond and they have two daughters, Kirstin and Erika.
