Not surprisingly, the Saskatchewan Party’s leadership race was a tight battle between four candidates, and it went down to the fifth and final ballot.
Four of the six candidates – Scott Moe, Ken Cheveldayoff, Gordon Wyant and Tina Beaudry-Mellor – were part of cabinet before entering the leadership race. A fifth candidate, Alanna Koch, was the deputy minister to the premier before vacating that post to try to become leader.
Rob Clarke was the lone legitimate outsider to join the race. A former Conservative MP from northern Saskatchewan who entered late, he withdrew in December.
Thanks to the nature of the candidates who were in the campaign throughout the process, it was a relatively uneventful, controversy-free battle to replace Brad Wall at the helm of the party, and as the premier of the province.
When the first ballot results were released Saturday night, Koch, Moe, Cheveldayoff and Wyant were separated by less than 10 per cent.
Koch had a small lead after the first three ballots were counted, but it was Moe, who had the support of much of the Sask. Party’s caucus, who emerged victorious.
Now the hard part begins. Moe will have about two years to place his stamp on the party, and establish his vision for the province, before the next provincial election in April 2020.
Perhaps his biggest challenge will be replacing Wall, who has been Saskatchewan’s premier since 2007, and the Sask. Party leader since 2004. Even after more than a decade on the job, he was the most popular premier in Canada.
Wall’s skills as an orator and a leader, coupled with his engaging personality, contributed to his popularity.
We’ll find out what Moe’s strengths and weaknesses are as a leader and as a premier, but we know he isn’t as dynamic as Wall.
A new party leader is often tasked with mending fences following a leadership race, but this might not be such a challenge for Moe. Yes, he’ll need to get the other candidates and their supporters on his side, but it’s not like he’ll experience the fallout from an acrimonious, bitter battle for the party’s leadership.
Moe takes over a province with an improving economy, thanks to a higher price of oil, but it’s still far from the economic glory years the province was experiencing for much of the Sask. Party’s tenure as government.
The Sask. Party is still recovering from the public’s anger over last year’s budget, which was filled with tax increases and spending cuts.
Moe will also have to handle the continuing controversy associated with the Global Transportation Hub land deals, and the other scandals sure to face a government that has been in power for more than a decade.
He’ll also have to work on the relationship with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal government. Wall’s relationship with the federal government was strained over various issues, including the Sask. Party’s refusal to impose a carbon tax.
If Moe’s victory speech on Saturday is any indication, he’s not backing down on the carbon tax front.
Moe joins a select group of people who have had the honour of being Saskatchewan’s premier. Now we’ll find out whether he’s a worthy successor for Wall, or if he’s going to struggle to keep the Sask. Party in power in two years.
