To say that the first week of the new session of the Saskatchewan legislature wasn’t a very good one for the Saskatchewan Party government would be a bit of an understatement.
Immediately, Premier Brad Wall’s administration was hit with memos obtained by the NDP Opposition suggesting a near revolt in senior health administration ranks over the $40-million implementation of the lean efficiency model in health.
Regina-Qu'Appelle Health Region leaders concluded lean is not being accepted because of the my-way-or-the-highway approach by American consultant John Black.
That was quickly followed by similar revelations that the CEO in the Saskatoon Health Region has similar qualms about Black’s style and effectiveness. By no small coincidence, she was fired at a cost of a year’s severance just as it was revealed that she had sharp disagreements with Black himself.
That said, lean might be considered a brilliant success compared with the SaskPower’s smart meter fiasco.
The government’s own $500,000 report commissioned by the Crown Investment Corp. (CIC) revealed that the Crown electrical utility was far too cavalier about public safety when it came to their smart meters catching on fire.
Rather than a successful test period in which SaskPower should have eased into the purchase and installation of the smart meters, the utility blundered ahead with the purchase of 100,000 smart meters from U.S.-based Sensus even though there were stories from elsewhere of problems with the devices.
Moreover, no one person at SaskPower seemed to be responsible for this $200-million program.
The mess cost former SaskPower president Robert Watson his job, but may have cost the Sask. Party even more in its credibility as effective managers.
All this came within the first few days following the Throne Speech that almost didn't take place that day because of a terrorist act in Ottawa.
Suffice to say, this was more than a bit of the auspicious kickoff to the political season that might very well end with an election a year from now.
However, it wasn't all bad news for the Sask. Party government when you get down to the nitty-gritty content of its Throne Speech.
Most notable in the speech was talk of tax incentives for manufacturing and processing businesses, good news for rural Saskatchewan in particular that has a lot of oilseed and pulse crop processing facilities and small implement manufacturers in need of a boost after years of dealing with a high Canadian petro dollar.
The Throne Speech hit on other familiar Sask. Party themes like reducing internal trade barriers and harmonizing labour standards and occupational health and safety regulations with Alberta and B.C., under the New West Partnership agreement.
There was also greater emphasis on public-private partnerships (P3s) for infrastructure projects like the Saskatchewan Hospital and integrated correctional facility in North Battleford, Swift Current’s Long-Term Care Centre and nine new schools, including ones that will be built in rural communities and smaller cities.
Also, the speech made it known that the Wall government intends to turn up the heat on private liquor stores, vowing never again to build another public liquor store in this province.
This is being emphasized to shore up the Sask. Party’s business base as it fills its coffers for an election fight.
But lest anyone assume this government is only about business, the speech’s called for tighter privacy laws, changes to organ donation rules, tougher penalties for illegal hunting and a long-term mental health and addictions action plan. This seems to point to a pretty well rounded agenda that should please a wide variety of Saskatchewan people.
Admittedly, such messaging was a bit lost in the first week’s blunders.
But there is lots of time for Wall to get his government back on course after a tough first week.
