First job is making case for NDP

That a strong NDP in Opposition somehow translates into a stronger Saskatchewan might not yet be a palatable notion to many people.

One need not look further than the 2011 election, when the NDP received only 128,673 votes — less than half the 258,598 ballots cast for the Saskatchewan Party, giving it 64 per cent of the popular vote. This result was close to political devastation for the NDP, which has governed Saskatchewan for 48 of the past 69 years.

New Democrats will start anew in a mere seven days when they choose a new leader from among Saskatoon doctor Ryan Meili, Saskatoon Massey Place MLA Cam Broten, and Regina Rosemont MLA Trent Wotherspoon. Given last month’s polling that showed half the province didn’t even know an NDP leadership race was happening, the first task at hand is to explain why a strong opposition is even needed.

Toward that end, the NDP has received some help from the Saskatchewan Party in the 16 months since the election.

Increasing public sector debt, fee hikes at SGI, spending cuts, and mild scandals such as the untendered contract at University of Regina’s Petroleum Technology Research Centre and IPAC-CO2 may be altering public trust of Premier Brad Wall. Or at least, they remind voters of why a strong opposition party is needed.

After all, memories of big, unopposed governments that spent frivolously — such as Grant Devine’s Progressive Conservative administration of the early 1980s — or cut vigorously — such as Roy Romanow’s NDP of the early 1990s — aren’t likely yet forgotten by many Saskatchewan residents.

The problem for the NDP, however, is to find a leader who is acceptable to both the party and the public. So with a mere week to go before the party picks its new leader, let us look at the pros and cons from both perspectives.

Let’s begin with perceived front-runner Meili, whose more left-leaning platform is likely to be tougher to sell to the 68 per cent of the province that didn’t vote NDP last time. In fact, Saskatchewan Party insiders make no secret that they see Meili’s policies — especially on drug manufacturing — as making him the easiest target.

Add his lack of political experience and the upheaval he’s likely to create as he moves the NDP from its status quo, and one might think the party would be most vulnerable with Meili as leader.

Yet, his ability to raise funds — tonnes of donations he received from professionals in two NDP leadership bids now — says something about his skills. Moreover, his likability factor makes it possible to heal wounds within the party and eventually win over broader provincial support.

And with his strong political conviction will also come passion. Combined with his professional experiences in medicine, that makes him far more formidable than the Saskatchewan Party thinks.

Finally, Meili would seem to be the leadership hopeful most plugged into the federal party, which is now the stronger wing in the NDP’s world. He may be able to bring some of the party’s federal talent to Saskatchewan.

Because Wotherspoon supported the clearly unpopular Dwain Lingenfelter in the last leadership contest, many in the governing party see him as an easy mark. Then there’s the fact that Wotherspoon hasn’t always thrived in the legislature, and that his leadership campaign, which started with such a bang, seems to have fizzled.

But Wotherspoon actually has done a pretty good job of isolating himself from Lingenfelter’s taint — at least within the NDP. He also has demonstrated both finesse and feistiness recently on the issue of the provincial auditor’s budget and untendered contracting. And he may be well positioned to bring the party back together.

Like his rivals for the leadership, Broten’s pleasantness isn’t necessarily seen as an asset in the rough and tumble political world — especially against the now seasoned and battle-tested Saskatchewan Party. A Broten win also would bring about some party divisions, especially with the Meili crowd.

And Broten’s lower key, almost-standoffish demeanour may be a detriment, especially in contrast to the gregarious Brad Wall.

But because he is arguably the NDP’s best performing member in the house, Broten offers the Opposition a sense of professionalism and gravitas.

Moreover, he seems to have demonstrated an ability to attract newcomers to the party and maintain the support of longtime New Democrats. And he may very well be the most appealing to the broader Saskatchewan electorate.

However, whichever candidate the NDP selects as leader, he faces a very long road that begins with demonstrating why Saskatchewan needs a strong opposition party.