Weird not seeing Weir at convention

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.

LONGTIME CIVIL SERVANT PASSES AWAY

Those who have watched politics in Saskatchewan over the years may not immediately recognized Richard Murray’s name, but it is one that has popped up a few times.

A 30-year civil servant, Murray was a deputy minister of central services for many years — he recently was moved over to a position as deputy minister of labour relations and workplace safety.

Murray was a funny guy, capable of getting a laugh out of reporters even if he was scrumming on a contentious or sensi- tive issue (like the protest camp near the legislative building). I was sad to learn he passed away last week, and hope his family knows how much he was respected within the halls of the Legislative Building.

ERIN WEIR NOT AT NDP CONVENTION?

Regina-lewvan and former NDP MP Erin Weir posted on social media a photo of him with a group of supporters, some of whom were once, long ago, NDP MLAS in the province.

It came with the caption, “The Saskatchewan NDP convention wrapped up in Saskatoon yesterday. It was a privilege reconnecting with many of our former MLAS!”

Weir, of course, was banished from the federal NDP caucus and barred from running under the federal party banner in any election by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

This came after Singh said he was not confident Weir wouldn’t repeat the harassing behaviour that originally got him kicked out of caucus last spring.

The Regina MP has made efforts to get back into the NDP and challenge the validity of the process that led to his ousting.

All this is a big headache for the provincial NDP, which would rather not have to talk about or be associated with Weir, given the controversy surrounding him ... but provincial Leader Ryan Meili has also vowed not to ban him from provincial events.

This all came to a bit of a head at that NDP convention this weekend. Weir said in the House of Commons this week he was an “automatic delegate” of the convention, name dropped Meili and spoke of reconnecting with some of the party’s “stalwarts.”

He even wore a delegation badge from convention while he said it.

Strange then that Weir was noticeably absent from the convention. Nobody, it seems, saw him there.

That photo of him with NDP MLAS he posted to social media?

It was taken at a pub, blocks away from where the convention was taking place.

NOM, NOM, NOMINATIONS

Pointed this out last week, but nominations for the upcoming 2020 general election are rolling in. Notably, deputy premier Gord Wyant was nominated to run for the Saskatchewan Party in the Saskatoon Northwest riding.

In other nomination news, word is environment minister and MLA for Weyburn-big Muddy Dustin Duncan will be running again.

There have been fairly consistent rumours over the years that he may be done with politics — those whispers picked up a fair bit when he opted not to run for the party leadership last year (seen as a star politician, he would likely have been the front-runner).

But Duncan appears to be enjoying — perhaps even having fun — doing his job these days. Good news for the Sask. Party, too — losing him would be a significant blow to party depth.

BABS AS AMBASSADOR FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Noting this here mostly so I can point out how damn good the Toronto Maple Leafs look in the early goings of the NHL campaign (they look really good), but as someone who “bleeds blue” it was exciting to see Mike Babcock, coach of my beloved Leafs, take on the role of campaign ambassador for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation in Saskatoon. Best of luck on the ice and with the campaign, Babs. Also: Go Leafs Go!