Sask. Party ‘Kate’ texts blanket province in pre-election campaign

In some parts of social media, “Kate from the Saskatchewan Party” is nearing meme status after people across the province have reported getting texts from the bot.

The text reads: “Hi, it’s Kate from the Saskatchewan Party. Can Premier Scott Moe & the Saskatchewan Party count on your support in the fall election?” Then it asks you to reply yes or no.

Some people are annoyed with the unsolicited message, while others have wondered how the Sask. Party got their phone number.

The party declined a request for an interview on this story, saying it doesn’t provide interviews on campaign strategy.

However, in a statement, the party said it’s developing campaign strategies to reach voters “safely and effectively” during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the texting campaign is one of those strategies.

“We understand that there are some people who don’t like being contacted online or through text, just as there are some people who don’t like being contacted by phone or at the doorstep, however, as a political party seeking election, our goal is to contact as many voters as possible,” read the statement.

The party said it gets the phone numbers from the Canadian Numbering Administration Consortium in accordance with CRTC rules.

For anyone who doesn’t want to be contacted, the Sask. Party said it can put them on its do-not-contact list.

Official Opposition Leader Ryan Meili said the campaign from the Sask. Party is a little ironic, given that then-Premier Brad Wall was so against the NDP doing something similar in a previous election.

“That was something Premier Wall had thought was terrible, but now Kate has contacted nearly everyone in the province,” said Meili.

Meili said he’s enjoying some of the responses people are posting online to Kate’s texts.

“(I’m seeing) the long ‘Ha ha ha’s and the ‘No, never’s and all the other messages that people are sharing, which show there’s a lot of people who are looking for a lot more from this government than a robo-text,” said Meili.

However, Meili did acknowledge that political parties are trying many different things to reach voters during the pandemic, noting the NDP is trying all kinds of options as well.