(Submitted photo/Valerie Brooks)
Green Party candidate

Green party names Valerie Brooks as Yorkton-Melville candidate

Sep 7, 2021 | 4:49 PM

Valerie Brooks is a name that constituents in the Yorkton-Melville riding will find on their voter card in the upcoming federal election.

The Hudson Bay native and educator of 20 years is the Green party candidate hoping to be voted in on Sept. 20.

Brooks told northeastNOW an important issue that needs to be addressed is climate change.

“If we don’t act immediately, it may be too late to keep living as we now are,” Brooks said. “Based on the IPCC report that recently was released, this is a code red for us.”

With running for the Green party, Brooks believes the skills and technology is already developed to transition to a green energy grid.

“The Green Party has a good plan to support that transition quickly using the skills and abilities of the current workers in the oil and gas industry to build and maintain a clean energy grid,” Brooks said.

Her platforms include basic human needs such as clean water, affordable housing and childcare, and rising costs of medical expenses.

It has always been a dream for Brooks to participate in democracy as a candidate and found now to be the time to pursue it. The mother of three adult children said she wanted to get involved for her yet to be born grandchildren.

“Our democracy is failing us, we are not working fast enough to solve tough issues like the climate crisis and basic human rights,” Brooks said. “We need more collaboration in parliament to get these areas of our society well-funded and working for everyone.”

While out speaking with constituents, Brooks said she has heard many different concerns and wants for change.

“I want to challenge people to think about what change means to them, do they mean just switching the power in Ottawa from one traditional party to another, election after election,” Brooks said. “Voters have the power to make change every election with their vote.”

Brooks currently resides in Saltcoats near Yorkton.

angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser

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