View from the Cheap Seats is kind of an extension of the newsroom. Whenever our three regular reporters, Calvin Daniels, Thom Barker and Randy Brenzen are in the building together, it is frequently a site of heated debate. This week: What do you think about the result of the Saskatchewan general election?
Disappointment
I can sum up my thoughts on the Saskatchewan election in one word. Disappointment.
Honestly, I don’t think a Saskatchewan Party government is a horrible thing, but handing Brad Wall a third massive majority is kind of like putting the cookie jar on the floor in front of a spoiled child and walking away.
I am disappointed in Saskatchewan voters for not electing an opposition. The Sask Party record may not be the worst in the province’s history, but there have been enough shenanigans with the public purse to warrant holding them hold them accountable. Who is going to do that now?
I’m also disappointed in the low voter turnout. Shame on us.
I am disappointed in the NDP for continuing to elect ineffective leaders. Apologies to Cam Broten because he seems like a really good guy, but the NDP really needs to stop compromising. Did they learn nothing from the Tom Mulcair fiasco? And where the hell was our local alternative? He didn’t even show up at the all-candidates meeting.
I’m really disappointed in the Saskatchewan Party for choosing to run a negative campaign. It is especially ridiculous in this case because Brad Wall could have run through the streets of Saskatoon wearing a chicken costume screaming ‘praise the flying spaghetti monster’ and still come away with a majority government.
I really hope we are not going to regret this. Four more years of a government that seems ideologically intent on transferring wealth from the public purse to the private sector does not bode well for income equality and social progress.
-Thom Barker
Also ran
Well once again, Brad Wall and the Sask Party are running the province.
That’s really not a surprise. Everyone knew they would win, just like everyone knew that Sask Party member Greg Ottenbreit would win the election in Yorkton.
In fact, Ottenbreit was such a lock that the other parties—Liberal, Green and NDP—really didn’t even bother to run against him other than simply putting forth a candidate in an ‘at least we showed up… kind of’ election.
Locally, Ottenbreit was the only visible candidate. He made his rounds throughout the voting offices in the city and spoke to locals. The other candidates? Wait, there were other candidates?
Provincially, Wall and company haven’t done a bad job over the years.
Sure, they’ve made mistakes; just as any government tends to do on occasion (that Lean program in healthcare being a big one… What a brain fart that was), but in the grand scheme of things they’ve done all right. Let’s say a six out of ten rating.
Now, I’m not going to lie and say that politics are a big thing for me.
I have my preference of party, yes, but I’m not someone that really cares a whole bunch about it as long as we’re not voting in someone like Trump (and I think Canadians have better heads on their shoulders than that).
So Mr. Wall, as long as you don’t come to my house and kick my dog, by all means continue what you’re doing. After all, you don’t fix what isn’t broken.
-Randy Brenzen
No surprise
Monday’s provincial election was about as anticlimactic as a vote can get.
It was expected to simply be a re-coronation of Premier Brad Wall, and that is exactly what it turned out to be.
The Saskatchewan Party pulled the savvy political deal when it emerged as a party from a back room meeting of Reform Party, Progressive Conservative and Liberal backers years ago, and the coalition of any party not New Democrat has worked since by amalgamating support.
Yes the Liberal and Conservatives have tried to re-emerge as separate entities, but for the most part are a pale shadow of the past, with little voter draw.
It has helped keep the Saskatchewan Party faithful on-side by holding power too. If they fail one day to hold the reins the old party roots might once again catch hold.
Of course since the days of Roy Romanow the NDP have floundered finding a leader with the charisma to sway voters, and the key issue to topple the Sask Party.
The last eight years have of course been some of the best economic times in the province. The Sask Party can take some of the credit, although less than a robust Chinese economy making commodity prices soar.
Through that time the Sask Party fumbled its budget numbers in the good times, but had a rainy day fund to dip into to hold the illusion of balanced budgets.
The fund is near gone, and the world economy is at a near standstill, so the next four years will be a new challenge for Wall and his party.
The results suggest voters believe they can do it, but we will see if the collective confidence was warranted.
If not, with the NDP in disarray, leader Cam Broten failed even his attempt to win this own riding, the options are limited for voters down the road.
- Calvin Daniels
