Talking to Politicians: The NDP

So it looks like the NDP wins for fastest response. All the more impressive in light of it being bounced around a little. While providing little actual info I have to give them props for their record (they created the SHF which directly funded my own work so it's hard to find fault).

Here's what Heath Smith had to say:

Sent: Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:22:13
From: "Heath Smith" hsmith@ndpcaucus.sk.ca
Subject: Re: FW: RE: policies regarding archaeology in Saskatchewan?

Dear Ms. CP,

Thank you for your email!

The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party does not have policies specific to cultural resource management, but more generally to the preservation and expansion of Saskatchewan arts and culture. New Democrats have traditionally been the political proponents of arts and culture in Canada. The Saskatchewan NDP, for example, was responsible for establishing the Saskatchewan Arts Board and ensuring that it received funding adequate to contribute to our communities. The Saskatchewan Party, by contrast, has recently diverted funding away from the Saskatchewan Arts Board.

On the topic of cultural resource management specifically, while still the government of Saskatchewan, the NDP established the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation. The SHF's mandate was "to provide financial support to heritage projects at the provincial and community level that seek to conserve, research, interpret, develop and promote Saskatchewan's diverse heritage resources."

For more information on the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation, please follow the link here:
http://www.saskculture.sk.ca/funding/SHF.htm

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you, once again, for your email. I hope that I've been some help.

Heath Smith
Communications Coordinator
NDP Caucus Office
(306) 787-6546

For the sake of curiosity here is the history of the message (most recent first):

Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 1:31 PM
To: caucus@ndpcaucus.sk.ca
Subject: re: RE: policies regarding archaeology in Saskatchewan?

Hello Jane,
I am curious as to why you need my mailing address to answer my questions? I assume you wish to mail some materials regarding the NDP's policies? If that is the reason I would much prefer the more environmentally friendly alternative of an individual email response or perhaps you could direct me to specific online versions of the resources you are planning to send? Thank you for your very prompt response.
-CP

NDP Caucus Office wrote:

Sent: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:55:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: caucus@ndpcaucus.sk.ca
Subject: RE: policies regarding archaeology in Saskatchewan?

Dear CP:

Could you please provide a mailing address so that we may respond to your email?

Thank you,
Jane Baniulis
NDP Caucus Office

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 4:52 PM
To: caucus@ndpcaucus.sk.ca
Subject: policies regarding archaeology in Saskatchewan?

Hello,
I am an archaeologist in Saskatchewan. I'm currently attending the University of Saskatchewan Masters in Archaeology program but I have been living and working as an archaeologist doing cultural resource management in Saskatchewan for 4 years now. I was curious as to your stance on cultural resource management in Saskatchewan. Are there any plans for more resources or positive reform of the heritage branch in future? Perhaps more incentive for companies to follow protocol, harsher punishments for companies who willingly violate regulations or a better inclusion of historic sites within the legislation to protect our heritage? I know this is less of a hot button issue than environmental protection but I see the archaeology in the province being destroyed day by day and while this is somewhat inevitable in light of industry, there are ways to protect these resources through awareness, avoidance and archaeological recovery before they are lost forever. Does the NDP have an interest in these concerns and a plan to address them? Thank you very much for your time and any information you may have! Your reply will be very helpful in determining my vote.
-CP

p.s. Don't forget to check out the English language debates tonight (although the vice-prez candidate debates do have their own car crash-esque appeal). If you miss it the video of the debate will be posted on the CBC website tomorrow.