Premier Brad Wall doesn’t usually do anything too shocking, but on August 10 he surprised the province by announcing his retirement from politics. He will step down as premier after a new Sask Party leader is selected sometime early next year.
The premier’s departure is all the more surprising because it is rare in Saskatchewan politics for a premier to leave at his peak and in mid-term. Most usually resign after an election loss. But Premier Wall views it as a chance for renewal. “Together with Tami, I have decided that now is the time for renewal – for my party, for the government, for the province. It’s time for me to retire from politics,” he stated. In any event, it’s a smart move.
Our premier leaves us on a high note. He has plenty of achievements under his belt. Always ahead of the game, he well understands that a decade in power is plenty for any politician before public tolerance and popularity fade. While the premier cited the next leader needs time to prepare for the election, some of the reasons behind his decision may also be intensely personal. We have to remember that the premier has been in politics for a couple of decades. The Wall family has spent a long time in the public spotlight and has sacrificed personal family life for public service.
Soon after the announcement, accolades began to pour in trying to decipher Brad Wall’s legacy. For one, wherever he went, Premier Wall truly epitomized Saskatchewan. He was the guy-next-door, easily mixing with rural and urban constituents, yet maintaining the dignity of a leader. For events like the Banjo Bowl, Wall showed his humorous side, but he refrained from Trudeauesque extremes like going topless and photo bombing weddings to connect with the voters. And the joking around did not take away from the premier’s serious side, showing his keen understanding of the complexities of Saskatchewan’s resource base during interprovincial and international talks. It’s a thin line between shameless promotion and meeting the voters. The polls show Brad Wall nailed it as he consistently topped the popularity rankings among provincial premiers.
Premier Wall voiced his love for Saskatchewan in his retirement address, but we’ve already witnessed him in action clashing with the Prime Minister. The premier earned fans from all political stripes when, instead of caving as provincial premiers have in the past, he stood alone against the Trudeau government’s plan to bring in a carbon tax that would hit our province hard. He not only opposed the tax but he also questioned its entire premise, noting that it would be more efficient and helpful for the environment to invest in energy-efficient technologies.
Many are remembering the premier for opening up Saskatchewan for growth and development of the resource sector. Oil, mining and agri-business flourished along with the population. Most importantly, soon after becoming premier, Wall led Saskatchewan through a spike in growth and unprecedented prosperity in 2008-2009 when the rest of the world and parts of Canada had a huge economic crash. Only those of us living outside the country at this time could appreciate Saskatchewan’s success.
The premier also tirelessly promoted Saskatchewan abroad in a way never before experienced. Southern Saskatchewan benefited from this promotion of agriculture. The premier was instrumental in securing India’s and China’s agricultural trade and in resolving disputes over lentils and canola recently. Last year, China imported 4.8 million tonnes of canola in 2016, much of it coming from southern Saskatchewan, and India did 40 per cent of its Canadian agriculture business with Saskatchewan.
Of all these accomplishments, Premier Wall will be known for leaving us with an irreversible change in attitude. At one time, our province’s residents were fleeing, vacationing and living elsewhere and seeking jobs in greener pastures. But Saskatchewan is no longer a have-not province with a dispirited attitude. Brad Wall’s departure also leaves a large hole in power politics in Canada. There will be nobody left to critically challenge the Federal Government on its policies like pipelines and environmental policies. For the first time, Saskatchewan was not to be quashed in dealing with the Federal Government.
Looking at the bigger picture, Brad Wall is right. There is a new cycle of political change happening with parties across the country picking new leaders and other provincial premiers exiting recently. And change is good. This was Premier Wall’s message a decade ago and it holds today.
