The race for the Saskatchewan Party leadership heated up this past week as candidates continued to make announcements on their policy positions.
On Tuesday while opening his campaign office, candidate Gord Wyant announced he was cancelling his federal membership in the Liberal Party of Canada.
Wyant’s Liberal membership had come under scrutiny early in the campaign, with questions raised from Sask Party rank and file on whether his federal affiliation would compromise his commitment to Sask Party principles such as opposing the federal carbon tax.
In a statement, Wyant indicated his desire to work “in the best interests of the province” and expressed the view that a new leader should not be associated with any federal party.
“As a result, I have written the Liberal Party of Canada and cancelled my membership,” said Wyant in a statement.
“To be clear, my only political allegiance now and going forward is to the Saskatchewan Party.”
Wyant also committed to return the Sask Party to annual policy conventions, and he also pledged a comprehensive review of all party policy prior to the 2020 general election.
“I have heard from many long-time members of our Party who are feeling disengaged, or who have not renewed their memberships, because they felt there was no reason to,” Wyant said. “This is a concern.”
The same day, Tina Beaudry-Mellor, MLA for Regina University, expressed her support for a position that has found some favour among those in the leadership race: endorsing the reinstatement of the PST exemption for insurance premiums that had been removed as part of this spring’s provincial budget.
“What I am hearing from the people of Saskatchewan, families, farmers, and small business owners, is taxing insurance premiums unfairly adds another layer of financial burden at a time of mounting competition and cost,” said Beaudry-Mellor in a news release.
“The Saskatchewan Party always said we would be the kind of government who would admit a mistake and would listen. I am listening. We have rising utilization pressures in our human services ministries; this is not the time to impose a tax on individuals, farms, and businesses that are trying to be responsible about their financial security during tough economic times.”
While his competitors touted policy positions, Ken Cheveldayoff’s campaign opted to tout campaign momentum by releasing the names of nine MLAs who have endorsed Cheveldayoff for leader so far.
The names are Randy Weekes, (Biggar-SaskValley), Laura Ross (Regina Rochdale), David Buckingham, (Saskatoon Westview), Greg Brkich (Arm River), Delbert Kirsch (Batoche), Warren Michelson (Moose Jaw North), Eric Olauson (Saskatoon University), Colleen Young (Lloydminster) and Warren Steinley (Regina Walsh Acres).
“I am pleased to receive the endorsement of several colleagues,” said Cheveldayoff in a statement.
“As we build our future for Saskatchewan, I'm looking forward to working with this vibrant group of MLAs with a strong mix of urban and rural backgrounds.”
Last week, Cheveldayoff officially filed his nomination papers in the leadership race, joining Rosthern-Shellbrook MLA Scott Moe as an officially nominated candidate. Both Gord Wyant and Alanna Koch announced Monday on Twitter they had also officially filed with the party as well.
Last week, Koch issued a policy statement of her own in which she turned her focus on the federal Liberals for introducing small business tax changes, changes that have come under heavy opposition fire in recent days.
“The prohibition on tax splitting is only one of the Liberals’ proposed changes, all of which will have many other effects on Saskatchewan,” said Koch in a statement Sept. 13. “In a province that has to work very hard to attract and retain doctors, the Liberals’ tax measures will encourage doctors to move to the US. The Liberal proposals will also have significant impact on entrepreneurship by impacting those willing to invest into growing our economy.
“As Premier, I would stand up for Saskatchewan small business owners and farm families by taking the fight straight to Ottawa on these disastrous proposals,” said Koch.
