Top five issues of sitting spring to mind
Here’s a look back at some of the top political stories during the third session of the 27th legislative assembly of Saskatchewan’s spring sitting, which recently wrapped up:
1 EXPENSES
Premier Brad Wall announced a new disclosure system for ministerial travel after Social Services Minister June Draude came under Opposition fire for expenses in Ghana and London, including the use of a car service.
Draude and high-ranking official Rick Mantey repaid the public purse for improper claims. Mantey also repaid costs for the car service used in London by Draude and Finance Minister Ken Krawetz, and he was put on probation by Wall and removed as the usher of the black rod.
2 LEAN
The Opposition also focused its efforts on blasting lean management, questioning both the program’s costs and value. Opposition leader Cam Broten said health-care workers were scared to come forward with concerns. The Opposition also had questions about other applications of lean management.
Premier Brad Wall at one point demanded Broten apologize for comparing lean to a cult and defended the program’s value. By the sitting’s end, Wall did acknowledge improvements regarding lean are possible.
3 HOSPITAL DESIGN
Lean came into question on another big story this spring, the need to change the design of the children’s hospital to ensure it will be big enough to handle future demand for maternity beds.
While the Opposition said lean design was to blame for the initially too-small layout, the situation also raised questions about the accuracy of population models used by the health ministry and how the government could be offbase in planning for the province’s rising population.
4 NOMINATIONS
Many Sask. Party MLAs announced 2016 election plans this spring. While most will run again, Draude, Krawetz, Rob Norris and Bob Bjornerud, all with cabinet experience and former Liberals, won’t seek re-election. And former ministers Darryl Hickie and Yogi Huyghebaert and former speaker Don Toth won’t be running.
The changes leave Wall with interesting choices for shuffling his cabinet in June. The NDP hasn’t announced any nomination plans yet, but will start after a convention that is coming up soon.
5 INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure remained a hot topic during the sitting. Wall had mused earlier in the year about using education property tax dollars to pay for infrastructure projects, but backed away from that concept by budget time.
The budget did include movement on infrastructure issues, but demands remained for stronger commitments to bridges in Saskatoon and Prince Albert in particular.
The state of highways is also of concern, Wall told reporters as the sitting concluded.