Money for rinks and veterans, and disillusioned supporters on the campaign trail Thursday

Both the NDP and the Saskatchewan Party made quick jumps back onto the campaign trail the morning after the leaders’ debate.

Scott Moe was in Moose Jaw on Thursday to make a couple of promises with big price tags attached.

Moe said, if re-elected, a Sask. Party government would bring back the Community Rink Affordability Grant. It would provide $2,500 per ice surface per year to community rinks to help them stay open and keep the activities affordable for families.

“The Saskatchewan Party understands how important these kinds of facilities are to communities throughout Saskatchewan and that’s why we want to help make them a little more affordable to operate,” Moe said in a news release.

The party said the program will support about 635 ice surfaces in 373 communities, and will cost $1.7 million per year.

The Sask. Party government suspended the grant program in 2016 after it became clear the province would be in a deficit position that year. It appeared the government had planned to run it for a fifth year, asking for applications, before it was cut.

Moe also announced a big jump in funding for the Saskatchewan Veteran Service Club Support Program, for organizations like Legion halls, ANAVETS and Lynx wings.

The government had been putting $100,000 into the program a year, but Moe promised to up that to $1.5 million per year if elected.

“$100,000 a year simply wasn’t enough to provide support to all the Legions and other veterans organizations, so we are looking forward to providing this significant boost in funding starting next year,” Moe said in the release.

The program would be administered by the Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command.

The NDP

NDP Leader Ryan Meili was up bright and early to introduce some former Sask. Party supporters to Regina media.

Meili said many of those who are now switching to put their votes behind the NDP are worried about Sask. Party cuts.

“Every day, I’m hearing from people who are telling me the Sask. Party is the wrong choice for them and for our province’s future,” Meili said in a news release.

“They know we don’t have to accept more of the same. We have a choice. A choice between cuts and austerity or the investment in people we need today. That’s the choice.”

One of those voters was David Nicholl, who said he has concerns about the Sask. Party’s record on things like cuts to education and health care, and the Global Transportation Hub land deal.

Meili was also in Moose Jaw on Thursday afternoon with local candidates to reiterate promises to put more money into schools.

He promised to reduce class sizes by hiring 1,000 teachers, 750 educational assistants and 400 custodial staff.