More candidates join Sask Party race

The race to replace Brad Wall as premier is getting more crowded.

Three more names have officially announced they are in the race in recent days, while a fourth is expected to join them by the end of the week.

That fourth individual is expected to be Scott Moe, MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook and minister of the environment in the government.

On Monday afternoon, Moe had formally taken a leave of absence from cabinet, meeting the deadline imposed by Premier Brad Wall requiring all potential leadership contenders from cabinet to step down from their roles.

Of the other candidates who have declared their candidacies in recent days, two are cabinet ministers representing Saskatoon ridings, while the other is the province’s top civil servant.

On Friday, Gord Wyant, MLA for Saskatoon Northwest who has served as minister of Justice and attorney-general in the Wall government, entered the race by pledging to listen to Saskatchewan people. In a news release from his campaign, Wyant also pledged to stand up for the province on issues such as the carbon tax, or federal tax changes impacting small business and farm families.

“I intend to listen to the party members as I travel to every constituency in our province. I will listen to Saskatchewan people. And I will offer a policy platform that reflects what I have heard and that respects the founding principles of the Saskatchewan Party.”

Wyant was introduced at his launch event by June Draude, one of the founding Saskatchewan Party MLAs, and he has also received the endorsement of Lyle Stewart, minister of agriculture in the government.

On Monday, Saskatoon Willowgrove MLA Ken Cheveldayoff confirmed what until then had been the worst kept secret in the province: that he, too, would be entering the leadership contest.

Cheveldayoff, who has roots in the Blaine Lake area, has served a number of roles in the cabinet, most recently as minister of Parks, Culture and Sport and minister responsible for the Public Service Commission. He announced his intentions before supporters at the Sheraton Cavalier in Saskatoon.

“My family and I have decided that I should extend my service and promotion to the larger constituency of the entire province,” he said. “My ‘rural roots’ and ‘urban strong’ background has provided me with the passion and desire to serve the people of Saskatchewan. I am, therefore, today, officially announcing my candidacy for the leadership of the Saskatchewan Party.”

Also on Monday, Alanna Koch, the deputy minister to the premier of Saskatchewan and cabinet secretary, announced that she, too, would be entering the race.

Koch, who has extensive experience in agriculture and had previously served as deputy minister of Agriculture, pointed to that experience in announcing her leadership bid Monday morning.

“What sets me apart is the sheer breadth and depth of my experience,” said Koch in a statement.

“I’m a mother. I’m a farmer. I have stood up for farmers and the agriculture industry. I’ve helped open doors so our farmers can sell their beef, wheat and canola all over the world. I have focused on what matters to Saskatchewan business. I am passionate about Saskatchewan and our future.”

In the wake of Koch’s announcement, Premier Brad Wall announced that Intergovernmental Affairs Deputy Minister Kent Campbell would take over as deputy minister to the premier and cabinet secretary on an interim basis.

Wyant, Cheveldayoff and Koch join Regina University MLA and Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor and Minister of the Economy Jeremy Harrison in the leadership contest.

Harrison, MLA for Meadow Lake, has been the most active of the candidates in offering policy positions early on in the campaign.

Last Thursday, Harrison pledged sweeping changes to ethics rules as part of his campaign platform. According to his news release, this includes a “Ten Point Plan” to bring greater transparency and accountability to the Saskatchewan government. He also pledged to divest the Global Transportation Hub as soon as possible, and end the government’s involvement in commercial land development.

“Land development is not a core competency of government and inevitably it leads to questions of conflict of interest,” said Harrison in a statement.

On Tuesday Harrison made another policy pledge: that he would roll back the charging of PST on insurance premiums that was imposed in the 2017 budget.

While there have been plenty of announcements of candidates entering the leadership contest, there was also news of some big names who confirmed they would not be running.

Health minister Jim Reiter confirmed Thursday that he was not entering the race. He cited family health issues as one of the factors behind the decision.

In a statement that was widely circulated on social media, Reiter said “my family and serving the constituents of Rosetown-Elrose will always be my priority.”

On Monday, the indication was that finance minister Kevin Doherty had opted to stay in cabinet, and would not be joining the leadership race.

It was also confirmed that federal conservative MP Brad Trost, who had previously sought the Conservative leadership and came in fourth place in that race, would not be seeking the leadership.