Now that the provincial New Democratic Party has lost their leader and the federal branch, having turfed theirs, only using a different method, it begs the question; is this a political party in deep trouble? If so, do we need to care?
One would think the people of Saskatchewan should care, insofar as the NDP forms the only credible in-house official opposition to the governing Sask. Party.
If the New Democrats begin to self-destruct with a slow but decided rift between two camps within the party itself, it could lead to some very real problems in terms of democratic principals on the provincial scene.
If the 10 existing MLAs within the NDP are about to be torn asunder by rival groups within their own ranks, that means the governing Sask. Party might be tempted to run amuck with no legislative check points to really hold them accountable.
With an adoring media and an apparently 70 to 75 per cent approval rating within the general population, what’s to stop them?
Any true voices of opposition coming from the unelected parties such as the Liberals, Green Party or Progressive Conservatives could be brushed aside with a flick of the political wrist as having no merit and no mandate from the population.
It could surface that Rachel Notley and her crew in Alberta might well end up serving as the best NDP counter-point to the Brad Wall Sask. Party juggernaut.
With the provincial NDP now facing a potentially divisive leadership selection process for the next one to two years, democracy, Saskatchewan style, may just have to take a temporary back seat.
We expect media scrums may take a harder edge with more questioning and concern-ridden voices, once we arrive at the conclusion that we may have to serve in that capacity in lieu of any officially assigned opposition on a regular basis, especially when the legislature is not in session. The media hordes in Regina and Saskatoon especially will have their feet to the fire on the emerging topics of concern and how the Sask. Party government is running the show. That task is not one generally assumed by the media, since it is not their job to foster arguments, but simply ask the questions. But, it’s a role the press has assumed before when a province or region was faced with overwhelming governing numbers and very little in the form of effective political opposition. Those are the times and the moments when we give thanks to the machinations of democracy that allow the press the freedom to ask the questions, challenge the answers, record and report the outcomes and not be threatened with repercussions other than a few hostile stare-downs or pout-ridden responses to legitimate questions.
With a somewhat similar two-camp scenario unfolding at the federal level and with the Notley crew being the only NDP squad of relevance these days, we do ask the question … has the NDP effectively removed themselves as a democratic voice in Canada with their race to the middle, rather than sticking to their collective guns as the voice from the moderate left? Their recent Leap Manifesto only adds to their overall confused sense of place in Canadian politics.
Sometimes the race for votes and immediate approval comes back to bite you on the backside and it seems that is what has happened to the once proud party. They went for the goodies being flouted by others, and were only seen as pretenders.
We suppose the lesson to be learned, if there is one at all, is to be true to your principals and mission statement or expect a rough ride.  Â
