LIFE AFTER POLITICS
Lingenfelter has moved on
Nov. 7, 2011, was the worst showing in a general election since 1982 for the Saskatchewan NDP, which won only nine seats in the legislature. Even the party’s leader, Dwain Lingenfelter, lost his seat. In a conversation with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Lingenfelter reflected on the challenge his party faced and his post-politics career. This interview has been condensed.
Q: What are you up to these days?
A: Since I left politics in 2011 we’ve been focusing on our farm and ranch in southwest Saskatchewan — well not just southwest, but in all of Saskatchewan, but our main base is in the Cypress Hills area near Shaunavon. So we’ve expanded our farm a lot, doing a bit of oil and gas and getting back into Calgary on occasion. I just finished a twoyear contract with TransAlta, working on some of their transition from a coal-fired company to renewables ... We have five kids and a new granddaughter, so we keep busy with that kind of stuff. But farming and ranching is really where we’re focused right now.
Q: What went through your mind when you heard that Premier Brad Wall was retiring?
A: Whenever you hear of politicians who have spent a lot of their life in politics, the first thing is obviously, congratulations to Tammy and Brad on the effort and time, and the kids. Because having gone through this, I know how difficult the whole exercise of being at that level of profile in politics can be on the whole family.
Q: When you think of your time as party leader leading up the 2011 campaign, how do you remember it?
A: I was working in Calgary; at the time I was vice-president of international government relations for Nexen, which is one of the largest Canadian oil and gas companies. I was convinced by a number of people that I should come back and lead the NDP ... It was at a time when there was almost zero chance of winning. Brad was newly elected, it was his first term, the Calvert government
had left lots of money in the till, and there was huge revenue coming from oil and gas. So there was no anticipation in my mind that you would likely win. But I saw it as an opportunity to get back to the New Democratic Party, who had been pretty good to me over the years and we had a good time. I got to renew my acquaintances right around the province, we travelled extensively, campaigning for those two years I was leader, and don’t regret it a bit, even though obviously you would wish the results were different.
It reminds me of sports. You don’t always play the game to win. Sometimes you know you’re probably up against an opponent that you don’t have much of a chance at. But I think we played a good game and when I look back at our campaign platform, I still think Saskatchewan would be fundamentally different if that program had been implemented from 2011 to where we’re at now.
Q: What would you have done differently?
A: I have to say, having been out of politics for 10 years I was rusty and made lots of mistakes.
Q: How do you see the next election shaping up in terms of the strategies each party is going to take? Both of them are going to have new leaders.
A: That’s going to be very exciting because you’re going to have new leaders in all the political parties. I think the Liberal leader (Darrin Lamoureux) stepped aside, Rick Swenson has left the party after many, many years as leader of the (Progressive) Conservative Party. Sometimes we just focus on the NDP and Sask. Party, but I think all the parties will have new leaders, new policy, and I think it’s like a blank sheet of paper, and this election is going to be fundamentally different than the last three.
Where Are They Now is a weekly feature updating our audience on newsmakers from the past. If you have a suggestion, email citydesk@thestarphoenix.com or call 306-380-4035.