It’s time for the Sask. Party to update billboard
Saskatchewan politics is filled with random events not making any headlines. In this weekly feature, political reporter D.C. Fraser shares some of those stories. Brad Wall has not been Saskatchewan’s premier since the end of January, but his face still adorns a billboard along Highway 11 near Findlater (it’s on the east side of the road). We know he was a popular guy, and his governing Saskatchewan Party has a huge challenge of rebranding successor Scott Moe. Ensuring the new guy, not the old guy, is the giant face smiling at commuters along one of the province’s busiest highways might be a good place to start.
BUDGET DAY UPON US
On Tuesday, the 2018-19 provincial budget comes out. For political watchers (including this one), it is kind of like Christmas morning. Actually, not really. The excitement levels are similar, but the present is sometimes finding out the province you live in is raising taxes on liquor (!) to help get itself out of massive debt. So, not quite like unwrapping a new PlayStation ... but still, excitement!
Much of the thrill comes from the sheer number of people and dignitaries who come to the Legislative Building in Regina to be a part of the proceedings. Mayors, First Nations leaders, former premiers, etc., are often in attendance.
For journalists (and political types), it also starts a new chapter in the ongoing story of Saskatchewan politics. Reporters are provided an embargoed copy of the budget the day prior to it becoming public. Usually we get it sometime in the afternoon. After that, newsrooms around the province will have reporters poring over the hundreds of pages of documents in preparation of the next day. The next morning, a technical briefing is held, where journalists can ask questions of the finance minister or officials. A few hours later, the budget is officially released.
MOE’S BANKRUPTCY NOT IN QP?
The StarPhoenix’s Alex MacPherson broke a story last week about Premier Scott Moe going bankrupt in his younger days. Canada has a decent track record of leaving personal matters out of politics, but I thought this would be easy fodder for the NDP to bring up during question period. They didn’t bring it up, instead sticking to other issues. Will leave that for readers to decide if this is a good or bad thing.
COMMISSIONAIRES A FRIENDLY CREW
If you do make it to the Legislative Building this week for the budget — or anytime, really — be sure to be nice to the commissionaires. It’s probably a good idea to be nice to people always, but the commissionaires on duty are a friendly bunch and likely the first interaction you will have upon entering the place. Also they can have you kicked out if you’re acting like a jerk.
RELAXING THE DRESS CODE
To get inside the press gallery, male reporters have to be wearing dress pants, dress shirt, a jacket and a tie. I don’t have anything particularly against tradition or dressing fancy, but considering nobody can see our legs from where we’re sitting it does seem excessive to have to wear dress pants. I’ve reached out to Speaker Mark Docherty on this, and am hoping he will relax the rules a bit.