The nation-wide lockout of about 9,300 rail workers at Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, is giving Steve Gessner a chance to mix some politicking with farming.
Gessner who lives in Maidstone, won the nomation on Aug. 19 to represent the Saskatchewan United Party (SUP) in the Cut Knife -Turtleford riding in the Saskatchewan general election this October.
The 64 year-old semi retiree is currently helping a farmer harvest crops and calls on the federal government to end the strike quickly.
"Get your fingers in here already. This should never be happening," said Gessner on Aug. 22.
"The employees of the railway should be considered an essential service, because without it, Western Canada dies."
Gessner says farmers throughout the province are worried about the strike continuing too long.
"We depend almost 100 per cent on the railway to move our product to market," he said.
Gessner was a long-haul trucker for 25 years who knows it's not possible for farmers to haul export grain by road transport.
"It would be really crazy— you haul 1,500 bushels on a Super B to Vancouver. It would take you three days to get it there."
"These farmers have mega large bills to pay, and they are depending on starting to move this crop quickly."
Gessner is working for a farmer that stores up to 5,000 gallons of diesel and purchases around 20,000 gallons of fuel a year.
He's hoping to be a voice to help fix what he sees as problems all the way across the board including what he calls a lack of representation in his electoral riding.
Independent MLA Ryan Domotor was removed from the Sask Party caucus in November 2023.
"They don't have a way of removing him from the Legislative Assembly. The Sask United Party has that in place, it's called MLA recall," said Gessner.
He says he also doesn't like what's going on with the provincial and federal governments, noting someone has to take a hold of it.
"People behind me believe I would make the right face for that," he said.
Gessner says he used to be a Sask Party believer when Brad Wall was premier and his successor Scott Moe held cabinet posts.
"Scott Moe in my opinion is not a good leader. He was a fantastic follower. Brad could tell him to do this and consider it done," said Gessner.
"He won't make the decision himself."
Gessner says as an example, Alberta Premier, Danielle Smith recently started talking about changes to the pension plans.
"Alberta wants to move into their own pension plan and opt out of Canada Pension Plan. As soon as Smith said that, Moe jumped on the bandwagon," said Gessner.
"He's fantastic follower, but he's not a leader."
Gessner says, SUP seeks a new deal with the federal government similar to Quebec's special status with more and greater control over immigration, cultural matters, natural resource policies.
The party also wants the ability to opt-out with compensation from certain federal programs in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction as one of its policies.
Gessner says as soon as the harvest is done, he'll be campaigning full time on party policies.
"Will I end up with a seat, I don't know. That's always a guess. I don't believe in polls. The only poll that matters is the one where people go and put their X to their candidate,” he said.
"I will do the best that I can do."
Gessner believes his 25-year career on the highway has given him the ability to see what works and what doesn't work in all areas of North America.
He is one of very few drivers who can say they have driven in 49 mainland U.S. states, all 10 provinces and all three of territories.
Gessner was born in Humboldt Sask., and raised on a farm in the Cut-Knife-Turtelford constituency.
He and his wife Kathy have been married for nearly 40 years. They have raised two daughters and now have two grandsons and one granddaughter.
Read More: Wild week in Sask Party circles
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