Green Party of Saskatchewan Candidate Profile - 2011
Constituency
Arm River-Watrous
Name
Orest Shasko
Bio
Orest resides in Lumsden, Saskatchewan. He is delighted to represent the people of his neighbouring riding. Orest has been involved with the Green Party assisting in federal and provincial elections for five years. He has been an environmentalist all his life, believing in preserving the land in its natural state. He worked from an early age for farmers and horticulturists, and likes to paint scenery and pets.
Orest was raised in the Kamsack area in a rich sociological community of cultures. After a year of veterinary medicine in Guelph, Ontario, he received a degree in sociology in 1967. Following that, he went on to Professional Teacher Training and three years of Fine Arts College specializing in ceramic sculpture. His work included a year of psychiatric social work, sixteen years of teaching art science, three years of oil refinery tech work and other jobs in building trades. He is now retired with a small, home-based art gallery and studio business at the Prairie Dust Art Gallery in Lumsden.
Shasko states My philosophy has always been left of centre, believing in the welfare of people balanced by a belief in small business. I believe communities should have adequate findings for youth and schools should participate in life skills and creative programs, including abundant night and weekend classes.
Adequate Funding For Youth And Schools
Being an educator and artist, Shasko believes schools need to create life skills courses and creative programs altering the schedules for abundant night and weekend classes, especially visual arts, drama, dance, music and scientific technology. Individual sports similarly are to be offered under alternate credit programs.
High school will begin at the grade 7, possibly eliminating 1 year of the high school, allowing students to enter technology courses such as business agriculture, building trades or solar tech earlier in life.
For the past 25 years governments have gutted creative programs. The introduction of the Art appreciation curriculum has resulted in no longer hands-on art lessons in crafts.
Universities Are Institutions of Higher Learning, Not Corporate Research Centers for Large Private Interest
Nuclear, oil and agrochemical technologies do not belong on campus. Similarly, genetic modification of the food chain is questionably opening doors for large world seed industries.
The Cultural Norm of the Automobile Industry Must Be Changed As Society’s Main Goal
Electric powered cars generated from the house in conjunction with rail-liner train services is required between major cities to commute.
Freight belongs on the railways as well. Rail cars, whether publicly or privately run may be the solution to reduce carbon emissions.
Global Warming is a Real Threat
There is no return from the carbon tipping point. To prevent this scenario, regulation on size of motors and vehicles will be necessary.
Orest Shasko Campaign Policies: Return The Natural State
Slow down resource extraction
Abandon pro nuclear agenda
Reduce carbon-dioxide emissions
Discontinue tax subsidies to oil and nuclear
Increase funding to alternative energy
Return passenger train service
Return funding to fine arts programs in the schools
Keep Saskatchewan a food source land
Encourage organic small farms
Create town of Watrous salt water ponds a tourist haven
Return anti-monopoly legislature on large corporations and media
