With a new year upon us, one thing is certain: 2018 will be a definite change in terms of Saskatchewan's political landscape.
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To begin with Brad Wall鈥檚 reign as leader of the Saskatchewan Party, and as Premier, will come to an end. Whether you are a fan, or not, his rise to power, influence on the province, and his legacy, all have to be seen as significant, in terms of our province.
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Wall was not the Saskatchewan Party鈥檚 first leader, that role having fallen to Elwin Hermanson, who came to the role after spending time in Ottawa as a Reform Party member. He was clearly more to the right among the cobbled together amalgam that 听 听 听 听 听 听 听became the Saskatchewan Party with the singular goal of defeating the New Democrats by presenting a unified alternative.
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The Saskatchewan Party finally achieved that when Wall took over the leadership, shifting the vision of the party a step to the centre, with a more 鈥楲iberal Party鈥� perspective.
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With Wall stepping down it will be interesting to see just where the party may move once a new leader emerges from leadership election being held Jan. 27.
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There are three possible scenarios; a maintenance of the status quo established by Wall, a move more to the centre, or a shift harder to the right. It is unlikely a new leader will find support to go more to the centre of the political spectrum.
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The status quo leaves the leader with the baggage of financial issues piled up under Wall.
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Going farther to the right might best satisfy the party鈥檚 most ardent supporters, but the far right鈥檚 support has proven limiting in terms of votes in the past.
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All three options have pitfalls a new leader will need to be aware of, and where they set their course, and that of their party will be intriguing to follow this year.
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And the response of the opposition New Democrats will be no less intriguing. After a quartet of generational leaders that included Tommy Douglas, Woodrow Lloyd, Allan Blakeney and Roy Romanow, lead the part from 1944 through to 2003, the NDP have 听 听 struggled to find a leader who has resonated with voters.
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The NDP will hope whoever emerges out of their March 3, leadership vote, is the answer to their woes in recent provincial elections.
The new leaders of both parties will have into 2020 to carve out their policies and build a base for the next provincial election. The foundation of their efforts, both Saskatchewan Party and NDP, will be laid throughout 2018, making it a story for all of us to 听 听 watch unfold.听
