Wall departs with strong legacy
The resignation of Premier Brad Wall came as a surprise as word spread from smartphones to news feeds, coffee rows to workplaces around Saskatchewan. The man who has consistently been Canada’s most popular premier announced that he is stepping down. But it wasn’t unexpected.
With a lifetime passion for politics, nurtured in campaigns as a kid and jobs as a staffer in provincial and federal governments, Wall became an MLA in 1999, leader of the Saskatchewan Party in 2004 and was elected premier in 2007 with subsequent wins in 2011 and 2016.
While he often signalled that he would serve for 10 years and was insistent that he would not contest a fourth election, many of his supporters were hopeful, if not wilfully blind to Wall’s selfimposed limitation.
Modern history dictates that the shelf life of most political leaders is about a decade, particularly for the good ones who still retain a measure of public popularity, goodwill and affection.
The rigours of life in contemporary politics, from social media to the demands of the 24-hour fishbowl, have pretty well limited the endurance of leaders, unlike those of earlier generations when the CCF/NDP’s Tommy Douglas served for 17 years.
That Wall has been a game changer, particularly in non-left-wing politics, is beyond dispute.
Electorally, he broke the back of the NDP as Saskatchewan’s natural governing party. It helped that Wall is only the second non-CCF/NDP premier in Saskatchewan history to win three consecutive elections. The last to do this was the province’s first premier, Liberal Walter Scott, in 1905, 1911 and 1916.
To be sure, the NDP is never down and out. Its history and socialist footprint on Saskatchewan are too pronounced to ignore, as are its powerful proxies in the union movement, academia and the media who are relentless.
But Wall and the Sask. Party, through a centrist governing style and a political agenda marked by pragmatism and popularity, have successfully seen Saskatchewan through the most active and prolonged period of economic and population growth in a century.
They’ve also helped to transform Saskatchewan’s attitude. The historic tendency, particularly among the left, of insularity, envy, schadenfreude and scarcity thinking has transitioned toward a more open attitude of opportunity seeking, selfassured provincial pride and a more defined sense of selfdetermination.
Just like the adage that all politics is local, the enduring success of a political leader is often intensely personal. From decision making to personal style, Wall is one of those people in politics who is genuinely likable.
With a humility that isn’t faked or forced, even after an 18-hour work day, Wall is not the type to utter an uncivil word.
His critics may dislike his politics or world view but the fair-minded ones admit to having difficulty personally disliking a guy who pokes fun at himself, coached minor football, obsesses about the Riders, loves country music, idolizes Waylon Jennings and, as a vintage car buff, even bought Waylon’s ’73 Cadillac.
Sachi Kurl of the Angus Reid Institute, the company that conducts quarterly polling on premiers’ popularity, notes that Wall leaves with an “enviable political highlight reel” and even throughout a period of tougher economic times and a restraint budget his popularity “plummeted” from 66 per cent to 45 per cent, which still leaves him atop the national premiers’ popularity ratings.
The old aphorism that perfection is the enemy of the good has some bearing in analyzing the Brad Wall years. No premier is perfect, certainly not this one. And no government will satisfy everyone.
But Wall’s striving for excellence and his commitment to Saskatchewan principles will not soon be forgotten.
This premier will be remembered among our best.
John Gormley is a broadcaster, lawyer, author and former Progressive Conservative MP whose radio talk show is heard weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on 650 CKOM Saskatoon and 980 CJME Regina.