Sask. Party’s low-key efforts in Regina byelection are a bit puzzling

Before we wander down the road of how strange it is to see the Saskatchewan Party’s relative indifference to Wednesday’s Regina Northeast byelection, let’s put things in a bit of perspective.

It is a byelection that doesn’t matter all that much to the governing party in the greater scheme of things, because it doesn’t change the legislature. For the majority Sask. Party government, it will mean another body — likely one who will sit in the backbench. For the NDP, however, a Yens Petersen win Wednesday means a rather capable young lawyer joining a weak, undermanned, 12-person NDP Opposition. Because funding for caucus research and communication staff is based on the number of caucus MLAS, one more caucus member is a bigger deal for the NDP.

Moreover, political parties are always motivated by the prospects of success or failure. And notwithstanding that the NDP lost this seat in 2011, this is a byelection the NDP should win.

We didn’t exactly see maximum political effort from the NDP in recent rural byelections it deemed virtually unwinnable. In fact, after NDP byelection wins since the 2016 general election in the city seats of Saskatoon Meewasin (Ryan Meili) and Saskatoon Fairview ( Vicki Mowat) followed by losses to the Sask. Party in the rural seats of Melfort, (Todd Goudy) Kindersley (Ken Francis) and Swift Current (Everett Hindley), we see the ongoing pattern of Saskatchewan’s urban/rural divide.

Psychologically, accepting this political reality even makes more palatable any future Sask. Party losses in pending byelections in Saskatoon Eastview (Corey Tochor) and Regina Northwest (Warren Steinley), which will be happening because both Tochor and Steinley plan to run as federal Conservatives next year.

What’s evident both on the ground and in social-media postings is that Sask. Party caucus members haven’t been hitting the doorsteps for their Regina Northeast candidate Gary Grewal in the same enthusiastic way they stumped for the aforementioned rural byelection candidates who were pretty much guaranteed a win anyway. And given that Sask. Party MLAS were recently door-knocking for Steinley’s federal Conservative bid next year, it can’t be a timecommitment problem.

Let us also be clear that it’s not as if the Sask. Party is completely disinterested. One advantage a governing party has with a Regina byelection is that it can deploy an army of political staff (again, having a majority government affords you the privilege of hiring a lot of staff ) to hit the doorsteps.

Certainly, the Sask. Party hasn’t been shy about encouraging both caucus and ministerial/executive council staff to become involved in local Regina Sask. Party riding associations. More than half of Regina Sask. Party riding association presidents have or have had politically appointed roles in the Sask. Party government, including Premier Scott Moe’s chief of staff Shannon Andrews (who is constituency association president in Regina Coronation Park.) But one might think any party would prefer constituency associations to develop more organically. And, again, there’s been a strange lack of caucus support for Grewal.

Grewal has been criticized by the NDP for having ties and having made financial contributions to the federal Liberals — thus, presumably according to the NDP, automatically making Grewal a huge supporter of a carbon tax that the provincial NDP at least supports in principle. It’s nonsensical. If there is one thing the NDP should absolutely fear — especially in urban Saskatchewan — it’s the notion that the old Progressive Conservative-liberal alliance is alive and well. Conversely, Liberal connections are something big-tent Sask. Party MLAS (especially, those urban candidates more dependent on Liberal support) should play up.

Moreover, Grewal, a visible minority member representing new Canadians, buttresses the Sask. Party narrative of an ever-growing, diverse Saskatchewan. That said, a Saturday story by Leader-post reporter David Fraser noted Grewal isn’t door-knocking as much and that there have been anti-immigration sentiments on the doorsteps.

Whatever the case, it’s all been a little strange.