Moe's populist image may have blown a tire
It sure isn't hard to find Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe these days. He's everywhere.
Well, almost everywhere. When it comes to the tire recycling story, Moe has been harder to find ... or at least, he was rather quiet until Wednesday afternoon, when the name of a “true friend” appointed to Tire Stewardship Saskatchewan (TSS) made its way to the floor of the legislature.
Just when you thought this tire file couldn't get any more Looney Tunes, along came Richard (Porky) Porter — Moe's longtime Shellbrook friend and political supporter, appointed to the TSS, which moments earlier he was lauding as appropriately providing arm's-length separation.
Shercom — the company that used to handle recycled tires for the entire province — implied this week that politics may have been in play in the TSS decision in 2022 to split the provincewide tire recycling contract into north and south. The southern half now goes to California-based Crumb Rubber Manufacturing (CRM), which opened a facility in Moose Jaw.
Is this story over? Nope. That's not all, folks.
Even before nasty allegations and threats of libel suits flew across the floor of the legislature, on Wednesday the tires were heating up with the NDP implying problems with the lobbying.
On Tuesday, Environment Minister Christine Tell repeatedly suggested these are all TSS decisions that had nothing to do with her. The TSS has responded to some media interview requests, but not others.
Unfortunately, the one person ultimately responsible for all such Saskatchewan government matters did not address the issue outside the chamber on Wednesday, leaving it to deputy premier Donna Harpauer to defend Porter's appointment.
“Where is he disqualified?” Harpauer asked. “If you donate to a political party, you're therefore not qualified for any board appointment?”
That Moe — preparing for the premier's spending estimates, reporters were told — was unavailable is not a frequent occurrence of late as we gear up for the fall vote. As suggested, he's been everywhere.
Whether it's been economic announcements or school openings or addressing domestic violence, Moe has fronted most everything these days.
One suspicion is that the Sask. Party might be gathering footage for campaign advertisements (with the side benefit of making the NDP paranoid of an early election call), but the better suspicion is that there's more to it.
It's likely strategic that Moe is fronting for the government everywhere.
Despite what the Sask. Party's detractors may say, the quarterly Angus Reid Institute survey tells us that Moe's approval rating remains high.
And never is he more popular than when he's fighting with decidedly unpopular Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the carbon tax — even in the face of the Canada Revenue Agency suggesting it may audit the Saskatchewan government for withholding carbon-price revenue.
“We are submitting the same amount of carbon tax on natural gas and electricity for residential home heating as the Trudeau government is collecting on home heating oil,” he said. “So we consider ourselves paid in full.”
One doubts the CRA is moved by Moe's political or moral argument, but the reality is that Moe is significantly more popular in Saskatchewan than Trudeau or the CRA.
Remaining popular is an issue. Perhaps the biggest problem is the Sask. Party is losing its most talented and senior minister, to be replaced by a few who aren't as skilled or likable. This may also be why we are seeing more of Moe lately.
It makes sense Moe is front and centre on popular announcements and less visible when it comes to providing potentially unpopular responses to controversies.
But here's the problem: notwithstanding Moe's suggestions in the assembly of “smearing these businessmen,” Moe and Harpauer are talking about people personally or politically connected to the Sask. Party. It's not a good look.
Such stories about local businesses complaining that they're being shut out by politically appointed operatives don't exactly fit the Moe/sask. Party populist brand.
Moe's brand seems an important Sask. Party selling point.