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During the 2024 provincial election campaign, politicians around the province are making promises in hopes of earning votes.
While lower taxes and affordable housing may appeal to adults, younger generations have their own priorities. 650 CKOM sat down with four Saskatchewan kids to find out what they want to see from potential leaders.
650 CKOM asked kids to design a campaign poster representing things that are important to them. Ellery Dyck, age eight, said if she was a politician she would focus on mental health and making people feel welcome. She said she would also provide free ice cream to voters. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)
650 CKOM: What is the most important job of a leader?
PAISLEY KRAHENBIL (age six): To help people. And being nice to people is important.
ELLERY DYCK (age eight): Just being a really good person that makes everybody feel welcome.
JOHNNY KOROLUK (age 11): Not being so rude to everyone all the time. Like, if someone says they lost their dog, we wouldn’t want a Premier that just says, “Deal with it.”
WILL KOROLUK (age 11): Being trustworthy. You’ve got to be helpful.
How can politicians make Saskatchewan a better place for kids to live?
PAISLEY: Make sure people feed them, make sure they keep them safe and make sure they be nice to them.
ELLERY: Build 1,000 more hospitals around. Because I think right now we have not that much doctors. Sometimes there’s not enough to help people.
JOHNNY: Maybe the premier could give kids a free ticket for anywhere in the province that they want to go.
WILL: No bullying. I mean, that’s already old… but like people don’t listen. They should say, “If you bully, you’ll have detention for more than one day.” Because it’s just not good. Also, they should make smoking illegal. That is really not good for people, and that’s what kids are learning from adults. It’s what they see.
Eleven-year-old twins Will and Johnny Koroluk said they would entice more people to vote by offering cake, or a free lifetime supply of anything voters want. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)
If you could ask the premier of Saskatchewan one question, what would it be?
PAISLEY: What’s your favorite shape? Or what’s your favorite animal or color, and what’s your favorite thing to do?
ELLERY: Would you vote for things to help people with their mental health?
JOHNNY: Do you get to make the laws? And how important of a job is that?
WILL: I haven’t really learned about him, so I don’t know!
If you could give one piece of advice to a candidate, what would it be?
PAISLEY: Talk to lots of people and be nice to everyone, even if they are different from you.
ELLERY: Try to make people feel valued, like they’re in a safe place and they can be comfortable there.
JOHNNY: Tell the truth. Don’t say “I’m gonna be helpful to all of you,” and then just say “Naw.” Be honest and do what you actually say you will do.
WILL: Don’t make people do anything they don’t want to do. If they want to vote for you, great. But you can’t force people.
650 CKOM asked kids to design a campaign poster representing things that are important to them. Paisley Krahenbil, age six, said if she was a politician she would focus on helping people and being nice. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)
If you were elected as Premier, what is the first thing you would do?
PAISLEY: Play with everybody and have a very big party!
ELLERY: If I was the premier, I would ban broccoli, mushrooms and cauliflower.
JOHNNY: Probably pay the bills that are all over the desk. Check for any latest activities that happened to see if I could fix them. Then just lean back until someone really needs me!
WILL: I would have fun with people. I would hold a big pool party at the biggest pool in the world. Yeah, I’ll be like, “Thank you for voting for me. Now we get to go to this pool.”
How do you think we can encourage more people in Saskatchewan to get out and vote?
PAISLEY: Say there was a puppy petting station. There’s all different types of puppies and you can just pet them and sometimes you can take them out of the cages and hug them and you can teach them tricks. That makes me very, very happy. And that makes me want to vote for the best person who can teach them the best tricks.
ELLERY: Give everyone who votes a free chocolate milkshake, free ice cream and free fish and chips.
JOHNNY: You could say, “If you vote, you get a lifetime supply of whatever you want!” or, “If you vote for me, I’ll let you be my assistant if I win!”
WILL: Maybe some decorations and cake and other food. Not like a full-on bowl, but you can get one of those mini cups on your way out. Candy, there’s pie, some cake and some fruit if you’re not really into that stuff. That would be good. I would go there.
Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
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