Mudslinging begins in Sask. Party race
In this weekly series, Leader-Post reporter D.C. Fraser and StarPhoenix reporter Alex MacPherson round up everything happening on the campaign trail as candidates compete to be the next leader of the Saskatchewan Party and the Saskatchewan NDP.
THE MUDSLINGING BEGINS
The campaign to replace Brad Wall is only a few weeks old, but already mud is flying toward some of the candidates. The first shot was fired last week, when news broke that Scott Moe was involved in a fatal collision 20 years ago. The story had been an open secret in political circles for years, but was not widely known — unlike his 1992 impaired driving conviction.
Nobody is confirming where the story originated, or who tipped off the media, but the timing raised some eyebrows. It’s also uncertain what effect the revelation will have on the former environment minister’s campaign, if any. Party insiders think he may have gained the most from what could have been a significant blow by taking responsibility for his role in the crash.
Perhaps the most significant thing about the story is not what it says or doesn’t say about Moe — the story has not been widely reported and he has not previously brought it up — but that it signals a willingness, at least somewhere in the party, to make this a dirty race. With more than three months to go, it’s hard to imagine more skeletons won’t be unearthed.
WHAT WILL THEY DO?
The trouble with leadership races is that pretty much every candidate is working from the same ideological base. That has the effect of amplifying minor differences — none of the Sask. Party candidates has, for example, come out in support of a price on carbon — as each of the hopefuls attempts to carve out a position and distinguish themselves from their competitors.
Most of the policy announcements to date have been minor — most of the candidates have offered a few ideas — with one major exception: former justice minister and attorney general Gord Wyant’s call for a formal public inquiry into the scandal-plagued Global Transportation Hub.
Although the minister of justice is typically the person who recommends an inquiry, Wyant has downplayed his reluctance to call for one earlier and suggested that his reversal was based on conversations with Saskatchewan residents. It is telling, however, that he remains the only candidate to wholeheartedly back a probe into controversial land deals.
Other candidates, meanwhile, are busy lining up supporters and rolling out platform planks.
Ken Cheveldayoff has said he’ll revisit provincial sales tax changes handed down in the unpopular 2017-18 budget and appoint a tax review panel. He is also putting forward preliminary plans to reduce the overall size of the civil service over four years.
Meanwhile, Moe’s camp has pledged to create a new ministry for international trade and export — effectively folding the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership into a government ministry.
Tina Beaudry-Mellor is reinforcing her progressive credentials by ensuring social policies are being discussed. She has pledged to fund a Housing First model to end poverty and hinted at extending the government’s three-year plan to bring its books back into the black, with the aim of softening the blow of spending cuts.
Alanna Koch has been largely silent on policy thus far. At this point, she has presented herself as the mirror image of Brad Wall, and has seemed unwilling to rock the boat.
On the NDP side, Ryan Meili has pledged he won’t accept corporate or union donations in his bid to take over the leader of the opposition role. He also announced a plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
There is also talk that the NDP — which faces the prospect of being rudderless for five months after the Sask. Party convention — is moving its convention forward.
OPEN FOR DEBATE?
The Sask. Party confirmed on Friday that it is planning six debates — which can be broadcast or streamed by media organizations — across the province, the details of which are expected to be released next week.
So far, Beaudry-Mellor, Cheveldayoff, Koch and Wyant have publicly committed to a televised debate. Moe said Friday the party is working on putting debates together, and that they should be streamed to anyone who wants to watch.