A new year has arrived, and 2020 promises to be an interesting new chapter.
We are into the first full year of the renewed mandate of the federal Liberal party. Their election was not a popular one out west and has the squeaky wheels of social media suggesting separation. It does seem so much sour grapes in regards to having been in this democratic system for more than 100 years, and now to feel so alienated when the system didn’t happen to serve up the result many wanted on the Prairies.
That said it will be interesting to see what the Liberals do in the months ahead.
It is highly likely that anything they chose to do, even if it is highly positive, will be met with resistance out west. For many supporters of the Conservatives they have not only crossed the bridge of no return in regards to seeing every Liberal move, they have burned the bridge and deepened the river for good measure.
That is of course a growing issue in this country. Voters are become deeply entrenched on the two ends of the political spectrum making common ground very hard to find.
It also leaves a huge no-man’s land in the middle of the political landscape, the place that used to be home to many voters, those who have now divorced themselves from the system with no party to support.
Adding to the federal uncertainty will be elections this fall for the province and the city.
Provincially the Saskatchewan Party must carry an ever longer record, both the good things and the missteps into the election. Generally, the longer a party holds power the more blemishes it will have until eventually voters opt for a fresh take on things. That is the legacy Scott Moe faces as he leads the Saskatchewan Party into the election fray.
Here in Yorkton voters will recall a rather long list of candidates running for election the last time the municipality went to the polls. That election put five new faces on Council, with only Mayor Bob Maloney and long-time Councillor Randy Goulden returned.
It will be interesting to see what voters think of the job the newcomers did, and in fact how many of them are going to seek re-election?
Certainly the municipal arena has its share of issues facing Council, among them the need for a new public works building, an aging second ice surface soon in need of replacement, and ever aging infrastructure in terms of streets, sidewalks and underground water and sewer lines.
Who the voters see as most capable on maneuvering through the maze of costly projects will likely be a key result of the election.
