YORKTON, Sask. — Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle says he will seek to represent Yorkton-Melville in Parliament as a Liberal candidate, arguing the riding would benefit from having a representative on the government side of the House of Commons.
Kienle announced his candidacy for the upcoming federal byelection, describing it as an opportunity to bring local priorities directly to federal decision-makers.
"My time as mayor has convinced me that Yorkton-Melville needs a representative with a seat at the government's table, not on the opposition benches," said Kienle.
Kienle said the decision was driven largely by his experience working with other levels of government as mayor, particularly as municipalities increasingly rely on federal and provincial support to fund major infrastructure projects.
"I've always thought about the fact that our local member of Parliament sits in opposition," Kienle said. "When projects start looking as large as our biggest projects, whether it be the wastewater treatment plant or the hospital, projects nowadays are just so incredibly expensive that you have to have that collaboration with different levels of government."
The longtime Yorkton resident said discussions with federal Liberal officials confirmed his view that the byelection presents a unique opportunity for both the riding and Saskatchewan.
"This wasn't ever something I was considering," he said. "I know that the Conservatives hold this seat very strongly."
However, Kienle said the circumstances of a byelection are different from a general election because the vote will not determine who forms government.
"It really gives people the opportunity to look at the person versus the parties," he said. "Would you like to have this person who has experience in government and in making relationships with the federal and provincial governments, or are you simply happy with yet another person in opposition?"
Kienle pointed to nearly $37 million in combined provincial and federal funding announced for Yorkton's wastewater treatment plant project as evidence of what can be achieved through cooperation between governments.
"For a year and a half I was working with the federal government and the provincial government on that money that came to Yorkton," he said. "There's real momentum."
He added that communities across Saskatchewan have also benefited from recent federal infrastructure investments and argued the province would benefit from having more government MPs.
"There's only one member of Parliament inside government in the province of Saskatchewan, and I think it's really necessary that for our riding, but also for our province, that we have more of a voice in government."
Kienle acknowledged that running under the Liberal banner in what has traditionally been a Conservative stronghold will present challenges.
"If nothing else, I think it forces people to have to think differently, and I think a lot of the time that's a win in itself," said Kienle.
The mayor said he grappled with how his decision would be received locally but ultimately approached it the same way he approaches municipal leadership.
"I told many people when I was elected mayor that I'm not going to think about the next election or whether my decisions make people happy or unhappy," he said. "I'm going to do what I believe is right for the City of Yorkton based on all the information that I have.
"Once I thought about this decision in that light and realized this is the right thing for Yorkton, this is the right decision for me to make as the leader of Yorkton, it ends up being more of an extension of the work that I'm currently doing than doing something totally different."
A lifelong resident of the riding, Kienle said his background growing up in the Margo area and living in rural Saskatchewan has given him firsthand knowledge of issues facing smaller communities throughout Yorkton-Melville.
"I've lived my entire life in this riding," he said. "It gives me the opportunity to support those communities, so not only is it an extension of the work that I'm doing for Yorkton, but it gives me the opportunity to extend that hard work to the communities in our riding."
Kienle said he will remain mayor until the byelection is formally called. At that point, he plans to take an unpaid leave of absence, with the city's deputy mayor assuming mayoral duties during the campaign.
If elected, city council would appoint an acting mayor until a municipal byelection is held. If unsuccessful, Kienle said he would return to his role as mayor.
Looking ahead, Kienle said he plans to travel throughout the riding to hear directly from residents and community leaders.
"If we want to see different results, we have to do things differently," he said. "For decades we've done the same thing. I think if we want to see different results, we have to think differently and then we have to act differently."
Kienle said the campaign will focus on highlighting the potential benefits of having a representative on the government side of Parliament.
"To me, it's a really good opportunity for everybody," said Kienle.
