After all the hoopla, after all the hugs and congratulations and the excitement had settled down in the hall, new Saskatchewan Party leader and Premier-designate Scott Moe made the media rounds at Prairieland Park on Jan. 27.
The last of those was a scrum with the media. There, Moe was cool, calm and emotion-free in answering a bevy of questions on a wide range of issues such as why he won, on how he would unite the party, on bringing down a budget, and the challenge of taking over from one of the most popular premiers in Brad Wall.
But the most telling question came from a reporter who asked: “Is this you being excited, sir, about being the next premier?”
“This is me being excited,” Moe responded.
At last, the man who had just won the premier’s job finally was able to open up about what this moment meant for him, and about the process of meeting people around the various communities in the province during the long campaign.
“This has been one of the more rewarding things I’ve done in my life, aside from my family, of course,” said Moe.
“Our province is so strong, and I’m so convinced of that now more than ever, and it’s because of the people. And I had an opportunity to meet a whole bunch of them over the last four and a half months.”
It was clear in that initial media scrum that Moe, MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook, will be a different kind of premier from Brad Wall. While Wall offered a folksy style combined with gifted oratorical skills, Moe’s style is more humble, calm, and no-nonsense.
Moe did share one obvious trait with Wall; one of being unafraid to stand up for the province on the issues, particularly when it comes to the resource sector.
His victory speech included a line he used before in describing the lengths he would go to prevent a federal carbon tax from being imposed: “Justin Trudeau, if you’re wondering how far I will go, just watch me.”
In the media scrum, Moe elaborated about that warning to Trudeau. “We’re fully prepared to take any position on the carbon tax to court, if necessary.”
Moe also reiterated support for a “made-in-Saskatchewan” climate change plan, and pledged to continue to sell that message and “speak from the rooftops, if you will.”
It was the end of what had been a historic day for the Saskatchewan Party members who gathered at Prairieland Park for the leadership convention.
As is typical of leadership conventions, this one featured the usual candidate speeches and demonstrations prior to the close of voting. There was little on the line for the candidates, though, as the majority of ballots had already been mailed in and were ready to be counted.
The first presentation was from Gord Wyant, who made a familiar pitch for a “big tent” Saskatchewan Party – a free enterprise coalition based on the party’s founding principles. He warned moving away from this approach would consign “the people of this province to a new dark age.”
Tina Beaudry-Mellor was introduced by Derek Meyers, former Global TV sportscaster and a frequent commentator on sports radio in the province. Beaudry-Mellor continued to make her pitch as the candidate who brought new policies to the race, and made a pitch for a more inclusive and socially-conscious party including Indigenous people and young people.
“There’s a place for you here,” she said. “Because this is my Sask Party, too.”
Alanna Koch’s presentation heavily played up her rural background, and focused on her vision for the future. She noted that when the government was first elected they were seen as a business-friendly government with a heart.
“We need to put that heart back into the party, we need to focus on the people.”
Scott Moe was next, and his speech drew heavily on the policies he put forward during his campaign such as his idea for a ministry of international trade and export, as well as his commitment to maintain growth and prosperity and to return to a balanced budget.
In a particular show of strength, his speech was preceded by a video showing the 22 MLAs who endorsed him, saying “I stand with Scott.” Deputy premier Don Morgan used the same line when he introduced Moe to the stage.
Not to be outdone, Ken Cheveldayoff was introduced by his brother – Kevin Cheveldayoff, general manager of the Winnipeg Jets.
The candidate, who entered and exited the stage to the tune Don’t Stop Believin’ also stuck to his theme as the grassroots candidate of the race.
It was not about endorsements, Cheveldayoff said. “It’s about you, the grassroots people.”
Cheveldayoff’s speech wrapped up the presentations by the candidates. The next big moment of the convention came soon after: the farewell address of Premier Brad Wall.
He started by observing that most party leaders usually give their last speech to the members on election night and it is usually a concession speech.
“Thank you all very, very much for making sure through the work you did that I never had to give that speech,” he said.
He also called for the party to unite behind the new leader to make sure “they don’t ever have to give that speech either.”
Wall also said this speech would be more partisan than most he’s given lately. It was – as Wall proceeded to lay one final hammering on the NDP — a deliberate reminder to all the competing leadership campaigns of who their real opponents were. “We only have one of those,” Wall said.
In particular, Wall noted the NDP had changed. He pointed to NDP policies during the Roy Romano’s era that were fiscally conservative and supportive of the resource sector.
“This current itineration of the NDP in Saskatchewan and Alberta is different,” said Wall. He particularly pointed to the $10 billion deficit budget of the NDP government in Alberta.
Wall also roasted NDP members in Saskatchewan who supported the controversial Leap Manifesto, ridiculing it as the “we hate bunnyhugs, perogies and Vi-Co manifesto.”
The outgoing premier also roasted the NDP for suggesting the government “check with the feds” on their made-in-Saskatchewan climate change plan.
“We don’t work for the feds! This party works for the people of the province of Saskatchewan!”
He ended his speech on a more optimistic note by pointing to the change in attitude in the province. Wall also alluded to a line he used during the 2007 provincial election when he said “hope beats fear.”
“The choice we offer in 2020 is still hope,” said Wall, who called on the party to come out united behind the new leader.
“Because this is the new Saskatchewan, and hope wins here,” Wall said.
Wall’s rousing speech was a clear reminder the outgoing Premier would be a hard act to follow for whoever the new leader was going to be.
But also notable was that his departure consisted only of a farewell speech; the main tribute to Wall had already happened at the party’s policy convention in November. After Wall left the stage and after the tears dried from people’s eyes, the focus of attention quickly turned to who the new leader would be.
The counting began at 4 p.m. after final voting closed.
Just after 6 p.m., the first ballot announcement came in and the results provided some early surprises.
There was an audible gasp in the hall when it was announced that Ken Cheveldayoff, who had led in fundraising totals and in some recent polls, placed third.
Instead, it was Alanna Koch who ended up in first place with 4,529 votes, with Scott Moe second at 4,483, Cheveldayoff at 4,177, Gord Wyant 3,696, Tina Beaudry-Mellor 226, and Rob Clarke (who had already withdrawn but was still on the ballot) 48. The razor-tight margin itself drew gasps in the hall as well.
It was even tighter on the second ballot, which saw Koch’s lead shrink to 38 votes over Moe, 4,533 to 4,495, as Beaudry-Mellor was next to drop from the ballot with 228 votes. Cheveldayoff had 4,202 votes, Wyant 3,698.
On ballot three, Wyant dropped off in fourth place with 3,780 votes, to 4,221 for Cheveldayoff, 4,544 for Moe and 4,598 for Koch.
Despite his disappointment with the showing, Wyant told reporters he believed his campaign had made a difference.
“Our message has resonated with a lot of people in Saskatchewan,” said Wyant. “We’re going to continue to push that message forward.”
While waiting for fourth ballot results to come in, Cheveldayoff supporters erupted into a chant of “Chevy! Chevy! Chevy!” even though it was clear by now that his prospects were bleak.
When the fourth ballot was announced, it was the turn of the Moe supporters to erupt as their candidate moved into first place with 5,980, compared to 5,591 for Koch.
Cheveldayoff placed third with 4,844 votes and was eliminated.
“You know, the people are always right,” he said to reporters.
“We started today saying hey, we’ve done all that we could. We’ve door-knocked on more doors than anybody in this campaign, I believe. We’ve just worked really hard.”
All that was left was for the announcement of the winner. With Moe holding a strong lead going into the fifth ballot announcement, camera people surrounded the Moe section in anticipation of his victory.
When Moe was announced as the winner, all bedlam broke loose in the Moe section. The candidate accepted the congratulations and hugs of supporters and MLAs. He eventually found his way through the mob scene up to the podium along with his family, where Premier Wall raised Moe’s hand in victory.
It was a thrilling end to a long and emotional day for party members.
One MLA who was pleased with how things had unfolded was Cut Knife-Turtleford’s Larry Doke, Minister of Government Relations.
Doke had encouraged Moe to enter the leadership contest, he said, and he made it known he thinks Moe is up to the job of being premier.
“I think Scott, you know, he’s young, he’s got a vision, he’s not afraid to take a stance whether it be the carbon tax or anything along those lines. So he’s been well groomed this last six years as Environment Minister, and Advanced Education, so I think we’re in good hands.”
Doke also believes that the Sask Party is strong going forward after this leadership race.
“I think it’s pretty good — 27,000 members now, and you know, we’re halfway through until the next election, so I think we’re in real good shape. We’ve got three by-elections coming up here; if we can knock those off, we’ll be in great shape.”
