Opposition leader Ryan Meili and deputy leader Carla Beck were in Weyburn yesterday for a show of support and to learn some ways Weyburn residents would like to be represented by the NDP in the legislative assemblies.

“Our role is to ensure that we get around the province, and when we’re not sitting in the legislature, and sometimes even when we are, we make sure that we’re getting out to communities, that is the only we can represent those voices of people, if we get out and talk to them and really understand what is going on in those communities,” said Beck.

"When we visit communities where we don't have an NDP representative, it's really important for us to hear from the community so that all of the concerns in Weyburn are getting represented," said Meili. “Right now you've got a government MLA, who certainly would represent Weyburn, but will he necessarily push in cabinet and be able to succeed in bringing up some of the issues? Or are there issues he doesn’t agree with that aren't getting heard because he's only that one voice coming from the area?"

The two attended the Weyburn Pride flag raising ceremony at City Hall and then had an informal lunch meeting with Mayor Marcel Roy, City Councillor Jeff Richards, Police Chief Marlo Pritchard and Deputy Police Chief Rod Stafford.

“As we were discussing, learning more about some of the local concerns, including things that we’ve seen with a lot of communities,” said Meili. “The cuts to what are called grants in lieu last year, that really had a significant impact, I think it was $1.4 million lost from Weyburn’s budget, which, in a town this size is a pretty big hit.”

“We’ve also seen the closure of Weyburn courthouse, which doesn’t make much sense and the failure to move forward on the very much needed hospital for the city,” he added.

“Not only do we have the role of the official opposition right now, it is our goal to form government in 2020,” Beck said. “And this is part of ensuring that we have the right platform to be able to represent the needs of people all across this province.”

Meili said Weyburn’s turnout for the Pride flag raising was as good as the one they attended in Regina. He said more tend to join at the march.

“Carla and I both grew up in rural Saskatchewan, we both went to school in small towns,” he said. “We recognize that this is a very difficult thing for a lot of people. A lot of people have had to not be open about who they really were. They’ve stayed in the closet and they’ve shied away from seeking that support.”

“What I really was excited to see, and continue to see, in more and more communities every year in Saskatchewan are these gatherings where people have the opportunity to find others who have faced similar challenges and just be who they really are.”

“It’s been really remarkable, I grew up in the 70s and 80s and people didn’t talk about things in this way. The openness that has developed is really positive and encouraging,” he added. “There’s still a lot of work to do.”

The two also visited The Family Place to further understand the needs of families in the area as pertains to early childhood education and community connections for those raising children.