Losing Brad Wall will be a tough pill for the Saskatchewan Party to swallow.
And it will be an equally tough pill for rural Saskatchewan as well … although maybe not quite as tough as some may suspect.
Brad Wall was not a farm boy like former Progressive Conservative premier Grant Devine.
But as the son of a small business owner (like former Liberal premier Ross Thatcher) and as the Swift Current MLA for the past 18 years now, Brad Wall was a strong representative for rural interests.
Wall was in tune with how agriculture is the driver of the Saskatchewan small businesses and the provincial economy as whole.
He was also well acquainted with what rural Saskatchewan needed from government.
This is why we strong highways spending during Wall’s years, although the way the Regina by-pass is now gobbling up much of the Highways Ministry budget.
Wall oversaw strong agriculture budgets, with few major changes to farmers’ input tax exemptions and with major reductions on agricultural land property taxes.
Wall was also an advocate for the Saskatchewan Associations of Rural Municipalities (SARM) and strong voice for the funding for villages, towns and smaller cities.
That we have now have new hospitals in North Battleford and Moose Jaw along with hospitals and nursing homes in smaller communities is testimonial to this.
Finally, Wall has been as strong an advocate for this province’s mining and oil and gas sector that’s spread throughout rural Saskatchewan.
This greatly benefitted Esterhazy, Kindersley, Weyburn and Estevan in particular, where Wall has vigorously defended the $1.6-billion public investment in carbon capture.
That said, commitments to both the rural and urban parts of Saskatchewan have come with a big pricetag. That not only has produced big debt, but also the corrective measures of tax increases and service cuts we saw in the 2017-18 budget that have angered many.
It’s really too early to make any bold pronouncements about the future of the governing party — especially with the NDP still struggling and with the Sask. Party’s stranglehold on it’s strong rural base that still accounts for half the seats in the legislature.
The Sask. Party may be in serious danger of losing in second consecutive city by-election in Saskatoon Fairview on Sept. 7, but the now-needed by-election to replace Bill Boyd in Kindersley will be a much different story.
Whoever is elected the new Sask. Party leader and Premier may be in that office for a while.
And there’s a good possibility that person will either be from rural Saskatchewan or have strong connections to rural Saskatchewan.
Certainly, all leadership candidates will recognize they need rural Sask. Party support to win this leadership contest.
As of the writing of this, the only declared candidate is former social services minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor — arguably, the most urban candidate this race will see. Among other urban names being touted are Parks and Recreation Minister Ken Cheveldayoff, Finance Minister Kevin Doherty and Justice Minister Gord Wyant.
However, it should be noted that both Cheveldayoff and Doherty come from rural outside the city — Cheveldayoff, from a farm near Blaine Lake.
Other potential candidates include Health Minister Jim Reiter (from Tramping Lake who is tied to rural Saskatchewan through his former career as a rural municipality administration), Economy Minister Jeremy Harrison (from Meadow Lake) and current Wall deputy minister Alanna Koch (from Edenwold and a former deputy agriculture minister and a former executive director of the Canadian Wheat Growers Association).
Interestingly, even Beaudry-Mellor noted during announcement the need for support of both rural MLAs and rural Sask. Party voters.
In a short leadership race where signing up new members won’t be easy, rural Sask. Party supporter will be critical.
Expect rural Saskatchewan to have a champion in the premier’s office for a while.
Murray Mandryk has been covering provincial politics for over 22 years.
