Brad Wall, the Premier of Saskatchewan, has announced his retirement – something that Fred Bradshaw, the MLA for Carrot River Valley, said was a shock.
“Nobody had any inkling that this was coming,” he said. “I kid you not.”
Wall, who has served in the position for a decade as of November, made the announcement to his Saskatchewan Party caucus privately Aug. 9 before revealing it to the public Aug. 10.
Kevin Phillips, the MLA for the Melfort constituency, said he was sad when he heard the decision at the caucus meeting.
“I knew Brad would be making a decision shortly about running in the next election and leading us through another election and I guess I had high hopes he was going to do that.”
Wall announced his decision to the public via a video on his Facebook page.
“Together with [my wife] Tami, I have decided that now is the time for renewal – for my party, for the government, for the province,” he said. “It’s time for me to retire from politics.”
Wall will resign as Premier as soon as the Saskatchewan Party chooses its next leader.
“It’s a very, very personal decision that he and Tami had to make and I’m proud of them for making it,” Phillips said. “He left Saskatchewan a better place than he found it 10 years ago.”
“I can kind of see it, in a sense,” Bradshaw said. “It’s a tough job and he’s done a good job for the province. He said he wanted to have some more family time.”
Andy Renaud, the acting president of the Carrot River Valley NDP, said he could see where Wall is coming from. Renaud served as a MLA for Kelsey-Tisdale from 1991 to 1995.
“It’s a demanding life and there’s lots of public pressure on a person in politics,” he said. “I respect his decision and I wish him the best in the future.”
Bradshaw said over Wall’s tenure, Saskatchewan had been made known throughout the world, with an increase of population and jobs.
“When you take a look at the last 10 years, when he has been Premier, the province has definitely moved forward.”
Phillips said before his party came into office, the province wasn’t performing as it could, despite its natural resources, hardworking people and a lifestyle that was second-to-none.
“There was no reason for that and I think Brad showed us that it could be different and will be different and he made us believe in ourselves a little more.”
Renaud said if he had a concern about the resignation, it would be about what was to come.
“The only concern I might have is: is the resignation because of that or is there tougher times coming?” he said, adding that the last budget assumed oil would be at $57 a barrel. As of Aug. 10, it’s under $50.
Phillips said he doesn’t see the direction of the government changing.
“We’re in Year 1 of a three-year plan to get back to balance and I think the so-called dirty work has been mostly done,” he said, adding that government projections predict they’ll meet that goal.
Bradshaw said he’s not concerned about the future of the Saskatchewan Party without Wall.
“As far as I’m concerned, we have a very strong party and a very good party and we’ve got some very good members. We will continue on. Let’s face it: nobody can be there forever and we will continue on and continue to work as hard as we can for the people of Saskatchewan.”
Bradshaw said there were strong candidates for the Saskatchewan Party leadership, both in and out of cabinet. Phillips said he figured there were about a dozen strong candidates for the position.
“We’re going to win the next election and then we’re going to win the one after that,” he said, adding that whoever wins will probably have to lead the party through two elections. “I’m looking at this as a 12-year commitment.”
Both Phillips and Bradshaw said they won’t be running.
Renaud was also positive about the NDP’s chances with Wall stepping down, saying his party has gained momentum since March’s provincial budget.
“There has been a lot of decisions made that affect the rural areas and it has affected the popularity of the Sask. Party and has certainly given the NDP a boost,” he said. “I suspect that this will add to that.”
