Politics with Murray Mandryk
An Interesting By-Election
Page 14 - FEBRUARY 9 , 2017 - mARtEnsvillE mEssEngER
Provincial
Politics with Murray Mandryk
An Interesting By-Election
Premier Brad Wall ’ s Saskatchewan Party government has yet to face a real meaningful challenge at the polls . Yes , they have won two general elections , which are truly an exhaustive challenge-at least for those participating in them . However , notwithstanding the grueling nature of province-wide campaigns , similar to the ones in 2011 and 2016 , the outcome was hardly in doubt . With his strong rural support , Wall virtually expended all of his political energy during the past two general election campaigns driving up and down Hwy . 11 so that he could focus on Regina and Saskatoon seats where the results were more in doubt . Sadly , it has left rural Saskatchewan out of much of the political discourse . However , a single byelection , like the one we are about to have in Saskatoon ’ s Meewasin in order to replace deceased Sask . Party MLA Roger Parent , is a different story .
Leaders roll up their sleeves and get involved because they can exclusively focus on a single riding . It ’ s a treat for those voters , if you happen to like being inundated by politicians . That being said , with the Sask . Party ’ s 41-seat majority , this by-election won ’ t change the political landscape of the province . Moreover , contrary to popular myth , by-elections are hardly a very good gauge of political mood . In the past 30 years ; we have seen 25 by-elections in Saskatchewan . Of those , 15 have been won by an opposition party candidate and 10 have been won by a government party candidate . That seems to somewhat dispel the notion that by-elections are where voters get to safely take out their frustrations on anti-government mood .
Nor does it say much about who will win the next general election . Of the last 25 by-elections in Saskatchewan , only 13 were won by a candidate whose party would go on to win the next general election . The biggest by-election fact is the riding ’ s own political history . In 19 of the past 25 Saskatchewan byelections , the winning candidate who had represented the party was who had last held the seat . In fact , it has now been 17 years since the last time we saw a by-election where the candidate for the party that previously won the seat did not hold the seat . That was in the year 2000 , when former Liberal Glen MacPherson , after a close general election , lost the Wood River seat to recently retired Sask . Party MLA Yogi Huygebaert . It was a meaningful contest and had the riding gone to the NDP at the time , it would have meant the then Roy Romanow government would have had a clear majority and would not have required the two Liberal MLAs to form the “ coalition ” NDP-Liberal government . Since its Wood River win , Liberals have not won a seat and are no longer a force .
It has set the stage for a two-party province . However , if Saskatoon ’ s
Meewasin won ’ t change anything , why should
MLA Report From Nancy Heppner
Federal Carbon tax Plan threatens saskatchewan Economy
Saskatchewan ' s manufacturing sales are leading the nation . Despite ongoing world commodity price challenges , this sector and our economy is showing signs of strength .
According to Statistics Canada , manufacturing sales were $ 1.2 billion in November , up 12.2 % ( seasonally adjusted ) over last year , and nearly six times the national average .
The challenges we have faced with lower resource prices has had an impact on the labour market and other sectors , but forecasts and other signs show our economy will rebound this year .
We need to maintain our competitive advantage in Saskatchewan .
Right now , our competitiveness is being threatened by the Prime Minister ’ s insistence on imposing an ill-conceived national carbon tax plan on the province of Saskatchewan .
We need to protect the people
and sectors that are being targeted by the carbon tax .
Twelve organizations representing thousands of Saskatchewan farmers , small businesses and employees have united against the federal government ' s plan to force a carbon tax on our province .
In a letter to the Prime Minister , they express concern that his carbon tax plan will hurt our economy and put the incomes and livelihoods of Saskatchewan families at stake .
They ’ re right – and we stand with them in fighting this tax on our people and economy .
In a recent vote in the Legislature , the NDP refused to support our government ' s position , proving how badly out of touch they are with the vast majority of Saskatchewan people .
Like their Alberta counterparts , the Saskatchewan NDP support a carbon tax .
They support a new tax that will impact your household budget and make our agriculture , mining and energy sectors less competitive globally while doing nothing to reduce global emissions .
Superbowl groundhog predicts six more weeks of commercials
W h e n asked about this , the Prime Minister says that all of the carbon tax cash his government collects will be returned to the provinces and could simply be given back to those who paid it .
So , what is the point of this bureaucratic merry-go-round ? Good question .
The Prime Minister says that it ’ s up to Saskatchewan to determine how best to help the businesses and families hurt by his new tax – and we ’ ve already figured that out .
Don ’ t impose a carbon tax in the first place .
Make no mistake , Saskatchewan wants to contribute to this country economically and in every way , including the fight against climate change , but we will defend our interests .
Saskatchewan ’ s White Paper on Climate Change outlines an alternative approach to the Prime Minister ’ s national carbon tax plan .
You can learn more at saskatchewan . ca / climate-plan . rural voters or anyone outside the riding care ?
And why might it be a political challenge for Wall ? It is because the Saskatoon Meewasin should be close and there comes a time when there is upheaval over the Wall government budgets and other policies , and it even has some political intrigue . While Parent won the seat in 2011 and last April , the area of the city as solid New Democrat from 1986 until 2011 . It will certainly be competitive , especially with the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives running candidates that may split votes . Add in the factor that candidate running for the NDP is Ryan Meili , the Saskatoon doctor that twice ran for the NDP leadership and is expected to run for the vacant post again . One would think Wall and the Sask . Party would dearly love to know Meili was off . The Saskatoon Meewasin by-election will not change anything , but there is certainly something at stake .
Letter to the Editor
The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication . Letters must be signed and a phone number and / or email address included so the writer ’ s identity can be verified . ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger . We reserve the right to edit letters for length , clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste . Submit your letter to ssealey @ martensvillemessenger . ca or jottenbreit @ martensvillemessenger . ca or drop by the Martensville Messenger office at Bay # 7 - 301 Centennial Drive North .