The decorum problem at the Saskatchewan legislature Premier Scott Moe says is now in need of fixing has been a problem largely of his own making.
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Premier Scott Moe’s call for improved decorum at the Saskatchewan legislature is not necessarily his call to make.
At least, not totally.
Decorum in a legislature is the function of the personalities of its members, but it’s also a function of the times, the history and the tone generally set by the premier and his government.
When it comes to the latter, the decorum problem at the legislature Moe says is now in need of fixing has been a problem largely of his own making.
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Six months ago, the last words of the last Speaker, Randy Weekes, painted a picture of government house leader Jeremy Harrison and a senior government out of control when it came to bullying and behaviour.
A year ago, the attorney general was defying judges on matters including Bill 137 that stripped certain rights of children. That was followed up by an election campaign in which we saw some of the most mean-spirited politicking imaginable when Moe riffed off an alt-right website — one that went after the kids of an NDP candidate — and vowed to enforce change room policies in schools.
And the list goes on and on …
To Moe’s credit, there was nothing in Monday’s throne speech about his supposed “number one” priority.
In fact, there was little bluster in the mercifully short 11-page speech from the throne read by Lt.-Gov. Russ Mirasty. There were even a few things voters prefer to see.
Tax decreases and incentive programs, as promised during the election, included: increasing the low-income tax credit by 20 per cent; the home renovation tax credit; doubling the active families benefit, the first-time homebuyers tax credit; increasing the personal home care benefit by $1,000 a month; increasing the Graduate Retention Plan to a maximum $24,000; increasing disability and caregiver tax credits by 25 per cent; keeping the small business tax at one per cent, and the largest personal income tax reduction since 2008.
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Arguably more intriguing is the plan for 450,000 surgeries in the next four years, additional urgent care centres in Prince Albert, North Battleford, Moose Jaw and one more in each of Saskatoon and Regina (although the Regina centre has already come under fire for not providing the 24-hour service that was promised).
Perhaps the most surprising line in the throne speech was: “Not enough has been done to support our children in their classrooms.”
It was a marked change from what we heard from former education minister Jeremy Cockrill ,who seemed to frame the problem as greedy teachers.
This all sounds good, as does Moe’s acknowledgement that “civility is the mantra of the government members.”
When a reporter asked Moe on Monday how the conversation went with his caucus when he informed members they would no longer be allowed to text the new Speaker, Todd Goudy, Moe replied that it was “about this long.”
For his part, Goudy in his maiden speech as Speaker praised the premier and the Opposition leader for choosing “very well” when it came to their respective new house leaders — a stark contrast from the last words of the Saskatchewan Speaker in the assembly and his less-than-kind words regarding Harrison et al. and their behaviour.
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Of course, it’s what should be said in any new legislature — especially one with 31 of 61 members having never sat in the chamber before. By all measures,we are off on the right foot.
Although, there is surely reason to be suspicious about why Moe is heading in this direction.
Facing a potentially rowdy 27-person opposition that has every reason to be rowdy, it seems more than a little self-serving for Moe to play the decorum card now.
Moreover, with a highly partisan premier who wasn’t exactly apologetic for the past behaviour of his government, there is further reason to suspect this may be soon be forgotten.
Asked Monday what he will do to demonstrate his sincerity, Moe harkened back to his first words when elected Sask. Party leader almost seven years ago: “Just watch me.”
His problem may be that people will do exactly that.
Mandryk is the political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post and Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
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