PROPOSAL JUST A DISTRACTION?

Policy pitch came out at the same time as damning coroner’s report

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.

TIMING OF PREMIER’S PROPOSAL SUSPICIOUS

Call me a cynic, but Premier Scott Moe’s office announced last Wednesday its proposal to change the federal equalization program — huge news — on the same day a damning, independent report about how Saskatchewan’s Coroner’s Office is underfunded and in need of significant changes was also released.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili called the equalization issue a distraction. Although I’m not sure putting forward a policy pitch can be brushed off so simply, I do know there were other relatively quiet days when the province could have come out with the equalization announcement.

REPORT RELEASE GETS RE-EVALUATION

Earlier this month, I wrote about the time reporters have to read the auditor’s report before it is publicly available.

To recap, it is a 300-page report with critiques of the provincial government, but reporters only get about two hours to read it and prepare informed questions to ask of the auditor. I argued that is hardly enough time, and the public suffers as a result.

Huge credit goes to Provincial Auditor Judy Ferguson for taking note of this complaint. An email from her office this week informed me this is a “good opportunity for us to pause and re-evaluate what we are doing,” and Ferguson has tasked staff to identify the practices of other Canadian Auditor General offices on this front. At the time I wrote about the timing of the report being released, I also wrote about how it is wrong for the Sask. Party government to put up civil servants, rather than elected officials, to be held accountable for the failings pointed out in Ferguson’s report.

The buck stops with the minister responsible for each file, but they hide from the auditor’s criticism when it is released to the public.

Here’s hoping they take note in the same way Ferguson did and look at changing that practice.

OFF-BRAND BILLBOARD SPARKS SOME INTEREST

For years, Regina-rochdale MLA Laura Ross has had a billboard on Regina’s Lewvan Drive. A keen-eyed, regular passerby noticed it had changed recently. He called to let me know the sign no longer has the Saskatchewan Party colours on it. Instead, it is pink and light green. There is no mention of the party or Scott Moe. Even her email address publicly displayed is attached to a Sasktel server, rather than a Sask. Party one.

Most urban-based Sask. Party MLAS are expected to have a struggle retaining their seats in the next election. A few, surely recognizing this, have left or made plans to leave the job already. Ross’ new billboard is no indication she is the next in line to make such a move, but it does make me curious. (A call to her office asking about the billboard went unanswered).