Energy issues are top priority for rookie MPS
Kram, Steinley both stand firmly behind Scheer’s leadership
Regina’s two rookie MPS are heading into a feverish political atmosphere as a new Parliament sits for the first time on Thursday.
Michael Kram, who defeated Ralph Goodale to become MP for Regina—wascana, didn’t expect to be on the Opposition benches in the House of Commons. He thought he’d either be defeated, or swept along with a Conservative landslide.
The reality is more challenging. “It just makes the learning curve that much more exciting, I guess, to be part of this exciting time in our history,” he said.
Now he’s part of a Conservative caucus that holds every Saskatchewan
seat, but fell short of government. The fate of leader Andrew Scheer, also a Regina MP, is one of the biggest question marks in federal politics.
Warren Steinley, a former Saskatchewan Party MLA, has no doubts about Scheer’s leadership. The new MP for Regina—lewvan doesn’t hesitate when asked. His answer comes in milliseconds.
“He is the right man for the job,” Steinley said.
“In a minority government, we can go to an election in 18 months or two years, and I believe Andrew is getting stronger and stronger,” he added.
“I think that he can win in the next election.”
Kram feels much the same way.
“I have a great deal of confidence in Andrew’s leadership,” said Kram. “I will support him in caucus and I will support him at the convention this April and he has my 100-per-cent support.”
Both men have similar priority lists for the new Parliament.
They come as little surprise. Kram said his No. 1 priority is “getting the resource sector back to work.” Steinley said opposition to carbon pricing and legislation like C-48 and C-69 top his list.
Despite his party’s failure to win government, Steinley thinks the Conservatives should basically stay the course. Reflection, yes, but major policy or personnel changes, no.
He sees no need for a major change in direction on Conservative environmental policy, saying communications issues were the main barrier for what was otherwise a strong plan. Opposition to carbon pricing, he said, should stay. He added that it may be the first topic he raises in question period.
He also rejected the notion that Scheer has to change the way he handles questions about his views on moral issues like same-sex marriage and abortion.
“One of the things I respect about him is he is very strong in his beliefs,” Steinley said. “And I don’t think that’s a flaw.”
Kram says he will wait for a post-mortem report on the campaign from former Conservative cabinet minister John Baird before commenting on where the party should go next.
Kram and Steinley both have their constituency offices set up in Regina.
Steinley has moved into the same office previously occupied by Erin Weir, the former MP for his riding.
Weir said his successor will have “a steep learning curve.” He knows Steinley is a former MLA, but he said federal politics operates on a whole different scale.
“It’s a very complicated job,” Weir said.
In his view, Regina benefited from having three MPS from three different parties. That gave the city a voice in every major caucus.
Now, with an all-conservative delegation, he’s worried some issues will get left out.
“I think the risk is that there will be a narrower range of issues advanced in Parliament,” Weir said. “I think if Regina’s new MPS simply stick to the Conservative script a lot of issues may not get raised.”
But Steinley said he isn’t afraid to make waves, even from the backbenches.
“I’ve never been afraid to be the first person to take that leap,” he said.
“I want to be a good MP first and foremost, and I want people to say, ‘he represented Regina-lewvan very well,’” he added.
“I think if you’re a good MP and you continue to have the trust of the people that you represent, everything else kind of looks after itself.”
He recently spoke with Mayor Michael Fougere to discuss the city’s priorities.
“We’d like to have a conversation on moving those tracks off the Ring Road,” said Steinley. He mentioned other needed infrastructure projects, like a new multi-purpose recreation facility.
Steinley brushed aside doubts that he’ll have difficulty advocating for those projects from the Opposition side.
“I think you just have to have those conversations with ministers,” he said. “It’s all about creating relationships and being genuine.”
Kram is open to any and all feedback, no matter who it comes from. But for now, the main Regina-specific priority he mentioned is getting the RCMP Heritage Centre named a national museum.
He noted that that’s an issue supported by both the Liberals and the Conservatives.