‘Tis the season of giving… and, for this political columnist, a little atonement for all the nasty things we’ve written.
What better excuse than Christmas to give our Saskatchewan politicians overdue credit for what might have been overlooked.
So, in the true meaning of Christmas… let’s hand out the presents.
There is a reason why Premier Brad Wall, after nine years in power, is still the most popular Canadian premier and why he secured his largest majority in April.
Wall has a true knack for doing and saying the right things, which is something he truly demonstrated in August when he condemned the racist social media posts in the wake of the Colten Boushie shooting death.
This may not have been an especially popular thing to say in some circles, but it was true leadership.
In fact, taking on the worst in all of us is greater leadership than Wall demonstrated in being the lone hold on Prime Minster Justin Trudeau’s carbon pricing. Wall deserves credit for taking on Trudeau because it was necessary to do so, although it might not have been his toughest choice.
But also deserved of a present are the past and interim NDP leaders, Cam Broten and Trent Wotherspoon, largely for their dogged pursuit of the truth on the Global Transportation Hub (GTH) land purchase mess.
It is never easy taking on a popular premier and even more difficult when you are taking on his government on a complex story with serious implications.
As is often the case when it comes to the unpleasant role of an Opposition leader,
it was tough but necessary work.
Speaking of tough but necessary work, Finance Minister Kevin Doherty deserves something in his stocking for being forthright about the necessary steps needed to deal with the billion-dollar deficit in 2016-17 budget.
Again, this is not a pleasant matter, but it’s always better when politicians are straight up with the public.
For similar reasons, let’s hear it for Deputy Premier and Education Minister Don Morgan, tasked this year with setting the table for delivery of a new governance system for education.
Appointing former civil servant Dan Perrins was the right course to take… although, not necessarily the easy way out because Perrins may not give the government what it wants to hear.
Past and present health ministers Dustin Duncan and Jim Reiter faced challenges in their bid to restructure health regions.
To undertake such changes when you are already dealing with a huge ministry that has a boatload of problems is more than a little ambitious.
When it comes to doing the right thing, let us hear it for past and present social service ministers Donna Harpauer and Tina Beaudry-Mellor who reversed direction on program cuts to those receiving disability payments while also receiving some form of social assistance.
It’s all too easy for politicians to simply blunder ahead with the wrong decision. In the spirit of Christmas kindness, let us hear for those politicians who do the right and kind thing.
One other such Saskatchewan Party government politician is Justice Minister Gord Wyant, who not only reversed himself on an inadequate piece of legislation but also proved to be a voice of reason on the GTH land deal. It was Morgan who stopped the purchase of the land from an undisclosed seller.
And then there are guys like Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart and new Parks and Culture Minister Ken Cheveldayoff that you don’t hear much from because they are quietly going about their business.
Finally, let’s offer Christmas cheer to former deputy premier Don McMorris, not for acknowledging his drunk driving charge, but for and dealing with the embarrassment with grace humility.
A very Merry Christmas to all.
