Twitter allows the debate to carry on

The legislative assembly didn’t sit this week, though debates carried on thanks to the world of Twitter.

In a good old-fashioned letter to the editor, Cypress Hills MLA Wayne Elhard decried “Murray Mandryk’s recent urbancentric opinion pieces on the need for additional MLAS” and pointed out that “as someone who represents a large, rural constituency, my first concern is providing adequate representation.

“I represent about 25 distinct communities, all of which I try to visit at least twice a year, more often if possible,” he added. “The round trip from Regina to my constituency is 800 kms. I make that trip an average of 50 times yearly, each time costing me an entire working day. I live in my car, even before I have the privilege of meeting with constituents.”

The MLA finished his letter by issuing a challenge for “Mandryk to travel with me for a week and then base his opinions on the reality of providing adequate representation to the people of a large rural constituency.”

Mandryk was quick with a humorous response on Twitter, pointing out some MLAS maintain their primary homes in the province’s capital — outside of their constituencies — adding to the driving they have to do:

“SP MLA Wayne Elhard wants me to tour his huge riding. Luv to. Shall we leave from your Regina residence or mine?”

With the demise of the provincial film employment tax credit still a hot topic on Twitter, the provincial NDP caucus was happy to point out via Twitter that three years ago this week, Premier Brad Wall proclaimed April 13, 2009, as Corner Gas Day in Saskatchewan. That was the day CTV aired the series finale, “Good Night, You’ve Been Great.”

According to a government news release at the time “Wall said he was pleased to pay tribute to the cast and crew of one of the most successful TV series ever produced in Canada.”

“For six great seasons, Corner Gas has welcomed people from across Canada and around the world to our province, and made short work of the misconception that there’s ‘not a lot going on’ in Saskatchewan,” Wall is quoted as saying, in reference to the show’s theme song.

The release also noted 107 episodes were produced over six seasons since Corner Gas started in 2004. The average Canadian audience had been about 1.4 million viewers, making Corner Gas the most watched comedy series in Canada. The show now airs in more than two dozen countries around the world, it added.

The document also boasted that Corner Gas “has been nominated more than 80 times for numerous awards, including an International Emmy Award, Gemini Awards, Leo Awards, Director’s Guild of Canada Awards, Canadian Screenwriting Awards and Canadian Comedy Awards,” and that “the series has won six Gemini Awards, including Best Comedy Series.”