The Northwest region continues to be a popular stop for those seeking the Saskatchewan Party leadership.
This week it was Gord Wyant’s turn to seek votes in the Battlefords and surrounding area. He was in the region in conjunction with some SUMA regional meetings going on not far away.
Wyant, whose cabinet experience includes a lengthy period as minister of justice and attorney-general under Premier Brad Wall, and whose experience includes time as a school trustee and city councillor as well as a legal career, reiterated the familiar themes of his campaign when meeting with the News-Optimist on Thursday.
Those themes have included a heavy emphasis on his call for party renewal.
“The premier’s given our party quite an opportunity for renewal,” said Wyant of Premier Brad Wall’s decision to retire.
A key message of his campaign, said Wyant, is to “get out to the people of Saskatchewan – individuals, businesses, stakeholders, organizations like SARM and SUMA – to listen to what they have to say. I think as part of renewal, a key part of renewal is listening to people, and by listening to people we’ll be able do a better job in formulating policies that affect the very people that they’re intended to affect.
“So listening is the key; getting out and talking to people is an important part of that renewal, and that’s what we’re going to do. I made a personal commitment that I was going to get to each constituency at least once during this campaign, and over five months we’ll have an opportunity to do that. So I’m looking forward to those continued discussions.”
As for his attendance at the recent SUMA meetings, Wyant said that among the issues raised from those municipal leaders is the need for infrastructure, particularly in “small-urban Saskatchewan.”
“They want to know that their government is responsive to their need,” said Wyant.
The other thing he is hearing, he said, is a desire to “rebuild a relationship with the government to open up further dialogues with respect to funding opportunities, and how we’re going to deal with some of these infrastructure issues.”
Wyant also said he is committed to maintaining the municipal funding formula at one percent of PST.
He believes the government has a good relationship with SUMA, but admitted the last provincial budget was “a little problematic for some municipalities.” He believes more discussion will “go a long way towards healing any issues that we have with municipalities.”
As for his campaign platform, Wyant said he plans to roll out his full policy statement within the next week or so – something he believes will generate a great deal of interest.
But a couple of his major policy planks have already been released during the past couple of weeks.
One is his pledge for the Saskatchewan Party to hold annual policy conventions, “so that we hear on a regular and consistent basis from the grassroots on what they’re thinking from a policy development perspective.”
The other has been Wyant’s call for a full inquiry into the Global Transportation Hub.
“I think there’s a cloud hanging over our party, over our government, about that issue,” said Wyant.
“I think the sooner we clear the air on that issue, the better. I think that that’s best done through a public inquiry and as soon as the police, the RCMP, have finished their investigation and report, that’s the time to give serious consideration to the timing of an inquiry. We would want to see the Chief Commissioner have the power of subpoena, have the power to compel witnesses and testimony and documents, so that we can clear the air.”
As minister of justice and attorney general, Wyant brought in the recent rural crime initiatives recommended by the caucus committee chaired by Battlefords MLA Herb Cox. He pledges to continue to find solutions to deal with the crime rates, as well as in dealing with the issue of illegal drugs.
“Issues like drugs, like crystal meth and fentanyl – that’s what’s driving the crime rate in this province,” said Wyant. He adds that “aggressive steps” were needed to curb that use across the country.
Wyant also answered questions on another issue: his former ties to the federal Liberals and the reasons behind his announcement that he was sending back his federal Liberal membership.
He made the move, he said, to make clear his loyalties were to the province and the Sask Party, and not to the federal Liberals.
“My sense of it was as we started off on this campaign that there was a feeling among people that my membership in the Liberal Party was somehow some affiliation,” said Wyant. He said he needed to end any confusion.
“My first attention, my first priority, is to the people of this province, and the interests of Saskatchewan, and not the interests of a federal party. That was the reason I did it, and I think it was the right thing to do, so that the people of this province have a full and complete understanding of where my loyalties are, and they are to the people of this province.”
By extension, Wyant has said he is committed to standing up to the federal government on issues such as a national carbon tax, which he says will make it very difficult for the Saskatchewan economy.
“We’re going to stand up, we’re going to continue to stand up to issues like a carbon tax,” said Wyant. But he adds that “we have to pay attention to some of the challenges around emissions,” reiterating his support of initiatives such as the commitment to a 40-percent reduction in emissions at SaskPower by 2030.
Wyant looks forward to taking part in the upcoming candidates’ debates including in North Battleford Nov. 16, and plans an active campaign until the leadership vote on Jan. 27.
“We’re going to continue to tour around the province and listen to people,” said Wyant. He calls this race a “unique opportunity” to pick not only the next leader, but the next premier.
“This is about the future of Saskatchewan, and so this is a very, very important discussion that we’re having now, a very important conversation. And so it’s going to be very interesting over the next four months left until the date the decision is made.”
