The ultimate Saskatchewan lobbying team
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.
THE ULTIMATE
SASKATCHEWAN LOBBYING TEAM
Premier Scott Moe was in Washington, D.C. last week, meeting with members of President Donald Trump’s administration. Talk focused largely on trade, as Canadau.s. relations are somewhat tenuous as the two nations sit locked in a brewing trade war.
So, the timing of Moe’s trip to Washington was good. The province pays about $400,000 a year to a U.s.based lobbying firm to ensure he gets meetings with some big wheels; but we’ve seen some fairly unprecedented lobbying efforts work recently on Trump. To this end, I am proposing an off-the-wall solution to Saskatchewan’s current trade woes with the U.S. that may let us keep that $400,000.
Stick tap to a handful of other reporters who helped me brainstorm this list (CBC’S Adam Hunter, in particular — who reported this week Saskatchewan is the U.s.-based lobbying firm’s biggest customer).
Given Kim Kardashian was able to lobby Trump into releasing a non-violent drug offender from prison, I am proposing an all-star team of people with Saskatchewan ties who will lobby the president — who loves celebrity — and help convince him a tariff on steel is a bad idea.
For starters, Kiefer Sutherland (or, Jack Bauer of the hit show 24). Sutherland’s grandpa was Tommy Douglas, so he has enough Saskatchewan street cred to count, and a strong chance Trump may actually think he is the heroic Bauer in real life. Although there may be some confusion as the actor’s most-recent role has him starring as ... the president, in the recently cancelled Designated Survivor.
In any case, Sutherland will be joined by Weyburn’s Graham Delaet, a professional golfer who can maybe win favour with the president by helping him with his putting. Brock Lesnar, the WWE star who reportedly lives in the province, would offer a sense of familiarity with Trump — they have both made appearances on Wrestlemania. Filling out the delegation would be Saskatoon-born former Playmate Shannon Tweed ... hoping the reason for her inclusion is obvious enough.
GOVERNMENT
NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE
The provincial auditor’s report came out last week. It is a roughly 300-page document that offers some fairly damning critiques of the provincial government. Everything from mental health and addictions funding, to the lack of action on orphan wells and need for better drainage policy is covered in it. Reporters are given a copy at 9 a.m. the morning of its official release, giving us about two hours to read it and prepare informed questions to ask of the auditor. That is hardly enough time, and the public suffers as a result.
But even worse for the public is how the province refuses to put up democratically elected politicians to respond to the auditor’s criticism. Instead, civil servants are forced to take questions from reporters. With all respect to the civil servants who do their best to satisfy reporters, they are limited in what they can say.
In the chain of command of government, the buck stops with the minister responsible — and it is a shame none of them were made available to respond to the valid points raised in the report.
WALL STILL FACE OF THE SASK. PARTY ON HIGHWAY 11
In April, I wrote in this space about how former Premier Brad Wall still adorns a billboard along Highway 11 near Findlater (on the east side of the road).
He has now been out of office for nearly half a year ... but that billboard is still there with his face on it.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE BEARD?
Speaking of Wall, he has taken to growing a beard since his political exit. He said he would shave it when the carbon tax is defeated, and with Doug Ford winning the Ontario election, Wall now has a huge ally in that fight.
But if the carbon tax isn’t defeated ... will he keep growing his beard?