David Kim-Cragg is running to represent the Green Party for Battlefords-Lloydminster in the upcoming election. (supplied/Green Party of Canada)

By Tyler Marr

Green candidate Kim-Cragg says economic equality, environment are priorities

Sep 16, 2019 | 5:00 PM

David Kim-Cragg says society and Canada’s economic system makes it too easy for people to overuse the bounty of natural resources we have.

This, along with growing concerns over climate change, are what drove him to step forward and stand for the Green Party in the federal election in the riding of Battlefords-Lloydminster.

“I feel a sense of desperation and hope at the same time as I am quite certain we could be doing things much better and could avert some of the terrible disasters that might be around the corner if we don’t do anything,” he said.

Kim-Cragg was born and raised in Sudbury, Ont. and moved to Saskatchewan 10 years ago. He’s been a member of the Green Party for eight years and is the CEO of the Saskatoon-University riding association. He is currently a Ph.D. student at the U of S and a chaplain at the school. For just over five years, he has served as a minister with the United Church of Canada. He has toured the province to work with rural churches.

Though the riding has elected conservative-leaning candidates since it was created in 1996, Kim-Cragg believes many voters in the region pay close attention to the environment and want a government that makes that a priority for them.

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He said Saskatchewan is unique and filled with residents who have a very close connection to the natural world around them in many ways, including farming, and climate is something many people are acutely aware of.

“When things start to change it is bound to affect people here very, very much,” he said. “In addition to our connection to the land, we have part of the country that is beautiful. To see something happen to our rivers and land I think it would be a terrible loss to us and others.”

As to how a Green MP and Green federal government could help address crime and social issues, Kim-Cragg said the Greens are committed to an economy that would lift everyone into a more stable living situation.

“Right now people who have an oil field on their land do very well and the companies that exploit those resources do very well, but it sometimes is not shared as equitably as it could be,” he said.

Kim-Cragg said solar and wind energy offers a better opportunity for people in the community in many ways. He said an equalization of social relationships will go a long way, including to ease tensions between various groups of people.

“The Green Party brings a new perspective. It is not Conservative or Liberal, it is not NDP, and so it has a chance at a new approach that would go a long way,” he said.

He said the next few weeks will see him work to get his message to the people and covey a better understanding of Green Party principles.

Kim-Cragg is up against incumbent Tory MP Rosemarie Falk, Liberal Larry Ingram, People’s Party of Canada candidate Jason MacInnis and New Democratic hopeful Marcella Pedersen in the Oct. 21 vote.

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr