Whenever a Premier steps down it is a significant event.
When it is a Premier whose term has been at the helm of government for a decade, it adds definite weight to the announcement of retirement.
That is the scenario for Brad Wall who went public last week with the announcement he was stepping down as both leader of the Saskatchewan Party and as Premier.
With the announcement, the platitudes rolled in quickly, which is not unexpected.
As much as politics is a contact sport rare is the occasion anyone takes an announcement of retirement to fire shots of discord at the person stepping away from public office.
Like Wall’s politics, or not, one has to appreciate his dedication and efforts on behalf of the province.
From the outset Wall was the chosen for his party, assuming the mantle of leadership by acclamation in 2004. From there he led the Saskatchewan Party which had been cobbled together by uniting the parties which were not the New Democrats in 1997, to power a decade after its birth. In so doing Wall had achieved the primary purpose of the party, finding a way to defeat the long reigning NDP.
A decade as Premier certainly deserves a level of respect and gratitude from residents.
But history will look past the immediate back patting in determining Wall’s legacy.
Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit has Wall set atop a list of former Premiers which includes Allan Blakeney, Thomas Water Scott, and Tommy Douglas.
“I think he’s been one of, if not the best Premier this province has ever had,” said Ottenbreit. (See story Page A1).
Ottenbreit said he makes that claim based on the greatest population growth in the province in 100 years, and the strength of almost any economic indicator one wants to look at.
But much of Wall’s early success was less political savvy and more the good fortune of high world commodity prices. Wall and the Saskatchewan Party a surplus, and enjoyed a time of high provincial revenue based on resource income. They would invest those dollars and when the revenues were over-estimated and in decline they simply shoved the problem at municipalities and the public as witnessed in this year’s budget.
Certainly the most recent budget and its offload puts a tarnish on the Wall legacy. The uncertainty of the current budget does not help either.
That Wall’s resignation may to some seem as a retreat from the field of battle as commander because he sees the losses mounting doesn’t help the legacy either.
In the end Yorkton Mayor Bob Maloney may have hit it closest when he said it may be less to do with specifics, and more to do with attitude. He said the Premier installed a greater level of pride within the province.
“I think the legacy is an attitude one …. He’s been a cheerleader for the province,” he said, adding in speeches Wall “was always talking about the Saskatchewan advantage and how our province is growing.” (See story Page A1).
