With the federal election set to take place in just over a month, the local candidates are already busy campaigning.

Talon Regent, the New Democratic Party candidate for Moose Jaw - Lake Centre - Lanigan, is already busy setting up signs and meeting locals. Regent was recently named one of Canada's top 25 most influential lawyers of 2020. He ran unsuccessfully against Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski in 2019 and says he is passionate to put his hat in the ring for a second time.

"I am ready for substantial and real improvements in people's lives," says Regent. "The Liberals and Conservatives are proposing more of the same, and we will not see any real change in our community for the better if we end up with either of them in power."

In particular, Regent wants to see free Pharmacare for all Canadians and to put an end to for-profit long-term care homes. To date, nearly 15,000 Canadian seniors in care homes have died of COVID-19, with many of those in for-profit facilities. Regent argues that these deaths were preventable but that the care homes owners prioritized profit rather than safety.

"The NDP put forward a proposal to end for-profit models in long-term care centres but it was shot down by the Liberals and Conservatives. That infuriates me."

Another goal Regent has set his sights on is a tax on the nation's ultra-wealthy citizens and corporations. He points to companies like Google, Netflix, and Youtube which pay virtually no taxes in Canada and yet utilize our telecoms and power infrastructure, as well as employing many Canadians. Regent feels that it is time to close the loopholes that all such practices to continue.

"During the pandemic, we saw the greatest wealth re-distribution from the middle class to the ultra-wealthy that Canada has ever seen," says Regent. "Much of that pandemic-profiteering is criminal, and all of it is unethical."

Regent also argues that we needn't be afraid of wealthy companies leaving Canada due to higher taxes.

"People will always have to do business in Canada. We have 30 million people and we are a major market in which to sell products. All the NDP is asking, is that when products are sold here, that these businesses have to pay their taxes the way all of us do."

Small business owners and farmers would not be at risk for higher tax rates under such as system, says Regent.

"People just need to ask themselves, 'Am I looking to buy my second yacht?' As a lawyer, I've got 'boat-money.' I do not have 'yacht-money.' And if you don't have 'yacht-money,' you are not going to get taxed as an ultra-wealthy individual."

Regent is also very disheartened what he considers a lack of concrete action in the Conservative and Liberal parties' environmental policies. He says the NDP is committed to making an expediated shift to clean energy with new training and high-paying jobs for those whose positions in oil and gas become obsolete.

"The droughts and forest fires that we are seeing right now are all going to get worse unless we take immediate and significant action," argues Regent. "I can absolutely understand that people may be worried about losing their jobs or having to move. But we have seen mass evacuations and houses burnt to ash because of forest fires that never would have been as bad without climate change. These changes are coming whether we like it or not and we need to support one another in adapting to these changes."

He also hopes to persuade those who usually vote for socially conservative policies.

"If you're someone who believes in the sanctity of human life, then you should believe that everybody at every age should have access to quality care. They should want to remove for-profit from long-term care," says Regent. "When it comes to giving birth to a child, we need to give people the confidence that their children will be able to grow up in a safe and happy environment. This is why the NDP is fighting for affordable childcare when no other party is doing so."

In the end, Regent hopes people will embrace the NDP as the party of the people. He promises to fight for people and not profit.

The federal election will take place on Sept. 20. So far, Regent will be up against Fraser Tolmie (Conservative), Katelyn Zimmer (Liberal), Chey Craik (People's Party), and D. Craig Townsend (Maverick).

You can listen to our full interview with Talon Regent below: