Wall led Saskatchewan through big changes, say Regina, Saskatoon mayors
The mayors of Saskatchewan’s two largest cities praised Premier Brad Wall for his leadership upon hearing of his plan to resign.
“Just a big surprise and we are losing a great leader and certainly a person who brought a lot of optimism and growth and leadership and vision to our province, always demonstrating a deep love for our province,” Regina Mayor Michael Fougere said. “The generosity and the big vision he had for the province stands out.”
“Saskatchewan’s role in the world has changed in the last 10 years,” Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said.
The partnership between the province and its largest city also helped transform Saskatoon thanks to provincial money for major infrastructure projects, Clark said in an interview.
Clark, who was elected mayor in October after 10 years as a Saskatoon city councillor, agreed Wall’s years in office have been marked by a sense of optimism in the province.
He also pointed to numerous projects in Saskatoon that could not have proceeded without provincial backing: Three new bridges, the Remai Modern art gallery, the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital and numerous affordable housing projects. “That’s been very important,” Clark said. “There’s been a lot of change in our city in the last 10 years.”
Clark also gave Wall’s government credit for putting in place a stable source of funding for Saskatchewan municipalities. The Wall government introduced a formula that provided municipalities with 20 per cent of revenue from the provincial sales tax (PST).
Clark noted that municipal revenue sharing remains in place, even after a budget that slashed grantsin-lieu to urban municipalities.
He admitted he and the premier have had their differences during his first nine months in office, particularly after the March 22 provincial budget that cut grants and raised the PST. The provincial budget left the city with a $9-million hole in its expected revenues and city council had to pass an amended budget in April. Regina also had to alter its 2017 budget.
Gordon Barnhart, president of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and former lieutenant-governor under Wall, also admitted this year’s budget strained his “very close friendship” with Wall.
“We had a bump in the road in terms of the budget, but we’re moving past that,” Barnhart said in an interview.
He had regular, candid “off-therecord” conversations with Wall while he was lieutenant-governor that helped convince him Wall had entered politics for the right reason, to improve the province, he said.
Clark also said he appreciated Wall’s candour as they forged a relationship after he became mayor. Wall called Clark to congratulate him shortly after his election win.
“Right off the bat, he said, ‘I’d like you to call me Brad,’ ” Clark recalled. “While obviously we’ve had our differences in my first nine months as mayor, I’ve always found Premier Wall to be open and direct and frank, and I’ve appreciated that.”
Clark said he looks forward to continuing to work with Wall until a new Saskatchewan Party leader is chosen.