Dear Editor
Winds of change are blowing here in Saskatchewan and it’s not just the usual November gales.
Within a matter of a few months, the people in the Battlefords area will have a different Member of Parliament and two new leaders at the helm of the provincial New Democrats and Sask Party. Some familiar figures are being shown the door and suddenly we’re being introduced to a batch of fresh-faced replacements vying for our favour.
H.L. Mencken famously said that the only way to look at a politician is down, but let’s put aside our cynicism for the time being and give these folks a decent chance.
I find it telling that there aren’t too many people in the running to replace Brad Wall who seem willing to allude to his “legacy” when drawing up their platforms. Some of the Sask Party candidates have even gone so far as to announce new ethics guidelines once they take charge, rather giving the impression that the previous bunch were a tad too slack in that regard (GTH land flip, cough cough…)
The NDP, meanwhile, have a two-horse race going, which has drawn complaints from those who like to see more diversity when they pop into the ballot box. But I would argue that there are stark contrasts between Dr. Ryan Meili and Trent Wotherspoon, differences in approach and ideology that may well reveal deep fractures within the party, as progressives flex their muscles and centrists urge caution. Is all of this setting up an inevitable showdown between a pragmatic, stodgy NDP executive and an impassioned, radicalized membership? Stay tuned…
Mr. Meili, with a background in public health care, would like to apply the principles of wellness to every aspect of society. His RX for improvement involves re-investment and engagement across a wide array of sectors, a complete reordering of social priorities. Mr. Wotherspoon’s platform, while perhaps less ambitious, nonetheless also represents a distinct alternative to the austerity-driven impulses of the present administration in Regina.
How that plays out in 2020 will largely depend on the state of the economy the day the election is called. Happy people vote for the status quo; grumpy voters opt for change – it’s been like that since the time of Socrates.
The process of replacing longtime Tory Member of Parliament Gerry Ritz has proven to be a disappointingly dull affair. Doesn’t anyone want what should be a plum job? I mean anyone with a vision. I’m not the kind who goes around picking winners (especially after being so wrong about Trump last year), but I’ll go out on a limb here and state, for the record, that if Justin Trudeau is expecting to add another member to his caucus come the night of Dec. 11, he’s either been polling on Mars or smoking a bit too much of that “Northern Lite” wacky weed.
Never mind, by March, 2018, we’ll have a totally different cast of characters to cheer on, heckle, castigate or ignore. Anyone given the nod to hold high office these days faces a host of challenges, not the least of which is convincing a disgruntled, bored, indifferent electorate that democracy still plays a significant factor in their lives…and “hope,” despite appearances, hasn’t become just another four-letter word.
Let’s put aside our posturing and partisanship for a few moments and wish them the best of luck, shall we?
They’re going to need it.
