Saskatoon, SK — Saskatchewan Green Party (SGP) Leader Naomi Hunter is seeking a renewed mandate, emphasizing her commitment to environmental advocacy, Indigenous rights, and grassroots engagement. Since taking on the leadership in 2020, Hunter has focused on rebuilding the party and ensuring that Green issues remain at the forefront of Saskatchewan politics.
In an exclusive interview with Global Green News, Hunter outlined her vision for the party’s future. If re-elected, she plans to establish a Shadow Cabinet to harness the expertise of members and build momentum for the next provincial election. She is also encouraged by the enthusiasm of recent candidates, many of whom have already committed to running again in 2028.
“We saw great renewal in the recent election, and I’m pleased that so many candidates are eager to stay involved, build constituency associations, and strengthen connections in their communities over the next four years,”she stated.
Hunter highlighted key accomplishments of her tenure, including re-engaging longtime Greens who had left the party and attracting a more diverse range of voices. Her leadership also saw the party gain national recognition for fielding a slate where half the candidates were Métis and/or Indigenousin the 2024 election. Additionally, she played a crucial role in elevating the issue of asbestos cement water pipes, which received national attention and was later taken up by the Green Party of Canada.
A strong Green presence in Saskatchewan, Hunter argues, is more necessary than ever.
“It’s important to have a strong Green voice in Saskatchewan politics because many issues simply would not get brought up in this province without us. The NDP in Saskatchewan have completely lost their way on the environment. We are needed more than ever.”
Hunter has also been a vocal opponent of nuclear energy, particularly the push for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Saskatchewan. She has warned that nuclear is an expensive and impractical solution for the province’s energy needs, citing concerns over water usage, long construction timelines, and potential contamination risks.
“Saskatchewan is a drought-prone province—we simply can’t afford a water-intensive solution like nuclear. We need to focus on renewables like wind and solar,” she stated.
Campaign Vision: A Bold Green Future for Saskatchewan
Hunter’s campaign for a renewed mandate is built on climate action, social justice, and economic fairness. She has emphasized the importance of:
• A Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI): Tackling poverty by ensuring all Saskatchewan residents have financial security.
• Ending Homelessness: Implementing a Finland-style housing-first model to transition people into permanent homes.
• Aggressive Climate Targets: Cutting emissions by 65% within two years and reaching net zero by 2035 through investments in wind and solar energy.
• Protecting Public Services: Opposing privatization and advocating for salaried doctorsto address the healthcare crisis.
• Electoral Reform: Introducing proportional representation to ensure every vote counts in Saskatchewan politics.
Hunter is known for her hands-on approach to leadership, personally responding to emails and messages from voters. She remains deeply engaged in community organizing, advocating for stronger social safety nets, environmental protections, and Indigenous rights.
With a vision focused on fairness, sustainability, and grassroots democracy, Hunter’s leadership review offers party members the chance to reaffirm their confidence in a leader who has dedicated herself to bold, transformative change in Saskatchewan politics.
“The part about the job of being leader that I am most passionate about is speaking to issues that career politicians don’t touch. I’m not afraid of the work of organizing the party and have taken on roles as needed throughout my leadership that weren’t tradition leader jobs. I understand that sometimes things just need to get done. That being said, my biggest passion and what keeps me going is activism and speaking for the environment and social justice.”
