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Koch latest contender in leadership race

Sep 25, 2017 | 2:14 PM

Alanna Koch is the latest hopeful vying for the Saskatchewan Party leadership position.

The hopeful visited North Battleford Thursday for a meet and greet.

“I’ve lived my whole life here in Saskatchewan and raised a family here,” she said. “My young daughters want to build their lifes here, and I absolutely want to make sure they can. I want to build on what Brad Wall has already done for the 10 years here in Saskatchewan. I want to keep building a strong Saskatchewan.”

Koch said she has been involved in the Sask Party since it started. She was a deputy minister for 10 years – nine years as deputy minister of agriculture, and as deputy minister to the premier and cabinet secretary over the past year. She is currently on a leave of absence to join the leadership race.   

While she doesn’t have experience running for election as an MLA, Koch said she’s been involved in politics for most of her life. While she has provincial experience, she also was a school trustee.

Over the years, she has run a consulting business, and has worked in the non-profit sector. She ran the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, and was on the board of publicly-traded grain company Agricore United. She has also been the president of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance and also owns a farm business near Regina.

Koch said she believes in the Sask Party values, including having a competitive business environment and a fiscally-responsible government. She opposes the federal government’s proposed tax changes.

When it comes to North Battleford, Koch is focused on curbing the root causes of crime. 

“I do know the Sask Party government has been doing some work on reducing domestic violence, making sure we have safe communities, working with community partners,” she said. “The role of government is to have the right laws in place, the right policing in place – making sure the right resources are in place, and supporting those who maybe have some addictions issues, so that we can address some of those challenges in our society.”

Koch added she would want to work with community partners to address the problem. 
 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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