Â鶹ÊÓƵ

We had no valid reason to expect it to be a polite event, but were hoping this year’s provincial general election would bring out the best in the campaigners, especially on the leadership front. 

But it turned ugly in a hurry with both sides hauling out the negative cannons and they weren’t just firing warning shots across the bow. They were aiming for the midsection. 

Of course our terms of reference for nasty come nowhere near the level of vitriol being expended on the never-ending political races going on right below us. Republicans and Democrats appear bent on destroying their own before destroying each other. 

Our provincial election, we trust, will not be that venomous, or turn into a 19-day circus. 

What we didn’t expect was a two-person Sask. Party and NDP leaders’ debate on television on March 23. It’s as if the electronic media that controls our provincial airwaves, determined there were only two parties with skin in the game, even though two others (Green Party and Liberals) have nominated close to, if not a full slate of candidates, while another, the Progressive Conservatives are making a valid run with over 20. 

Global, CTV and CBC see this only as a two-party race, which is lamentable if that is what politics has been reduced to in this province. The three after-thoughts will have to raise their voices just a little bit louder to be heard. 

Meanwhile, Cam Broten and Brad Wall and their respective teams, have taken aim on one another. 

The NDP earned early points, thanks to a glaring error made by social services employees and the now infamous bus trip to B.C. for a couple of homeless men in Saskatchewan. 

They also dug into the trenches with accusations of entitlement by Wall’s senior people and the use of the government’s executive aircraft, they have now dubbed the Gravy Planes. And let’s not forget their unending shots regarding perceived faux pas events connected to Lean and the over-hiring of consultants for a variety of projects, including the Global Transportation Hub.

The Sask. Party zeroed in on a few targets too, namely the ridings where four NDP candidates have now been disowned by the party, including Estevan Constituency’s Cameron Robock. It seems all four former NDP runners have been dismissed for their past clumsiness in handling social media postings. So remove Mark Jeworski, Clayton Wilson, and Terry Bell from the list along with campaign manager Frank Quennell, a former MLA and Attorney General, also let go, probably for not overseeing a worthwhile vetting process prior to these four getting nomination nods.

This situation leaves the NDP in a weakened position in the four ridings, with two of them being in the larger cities where the party felt they had a good chance. 

The Sask. Party can now probably chalk up victories, with some degree of certainty in at least two of these four ridings.    

The Sask. Party is also picking away at the NDP platform that is being rolled out with a red carpet filled with promises they (Sask. Party) claim now amounts to more than $5.5 billion in new spending, even though it is well documented Saskatchewan taxpayers are already struggling to meet current obligations. No doubt the current government members and the party’s candidates will be pointing out these discrepancies as we narrow in on the final days of the campaign 

But, let us be thankful, when the dust settles, all will shake hands and resume a certain air of decorum. We’re not so sure about those poor southern neighbours.