There was a better way to save money

Unfortunately the University of Regina has found it necessary to cancel their wrestling program and men’s volleyball program.

Why? The Wall government cut the University’s funding by five per cent last fiscal year. The Scott Moe government froze it at the same level this year. Although the men’s volleyball program had not been overly successful, the wrestling program has been a powerhouse year after year after year. The women’s program is currently ranked fifth nationally and the men’s seventh. Their contribution to the university’s national status will be missed.

There was an alternative. One of Brad Wall’s final acts before leaving office was to add three new rural ridings. The cost of the wrestling program would easily be covered by the cost of three more MLAs, with change left over. Instead, Saskatchewan will have four more seats than Manitoba even though our population is smaller by 100,000. Why did Wall do it? Because the Saskatchewan Party can now win a majority government without winning a single seat in Regina and Saskatoon. It’s called insurance, knowing many Saskatchewan Party MLAs in urban ridings are on shaky ground. It’s called taking care of priorities. What’s more important: University funding or more MLAs? We know what the Saskatchewan Party government thinks.

The ultimate irony is that cuts to university athletic programs were announced the same day we learn former premier Wall has accepted a job with a Calgary law firm. Interesting, that the former premier has to go to Alberta to find work. Roy Schneider, Regina