REGINA – Just over three months before the writ drops on the provincial election, Premier Brad Wall doesn’t want to divulge too much of his Saskatchewan Party’s platform.
“Why would we need a campaign?” Wall joked in a year-end interview with Global News.
But the premier has been critical of the Opposition NDP for not providing a glimpse of its plans ahead of the April 4 vote, saying the Sask. Party unveiled a detailed platform far in advance of the 2007 election, which the party eventually won.
“I’d like to be able to promise any number of things … but I’m not sure that’s the responsible thing to do.”
So, what promises should people expect from Wall in the run up to 2016?
“Not a lot, to be truthful. We’re going to have a fairly spartan campaign platform.”
“I’d like to be able to go into the campaign and promise any number of things, new ways to spend dollars, build more facilities, provide more services,” he said. “But I’m not sure that’s the responsible thing to do.”
Two items already introduced by Wall’s government hinge on the election results: Bill 179, which would allow people to pay out-of-pocket for MRI scans; and a plan to sell off 40 publicly-owned liquor stores. Neither can happen until a new legislative session begins, and both would likely be scrapped if the NDP are victorious in April.
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Wall did hint at new spending on highways and health care – particularly, nursing homes, suggesting those are both areas that need improvement.
He also says the Sask. Party will spend much of the campaign on its own performance during eight years in government, pointing to shorter surgical wait times, job creation and population growth since his party was first elected in 2007, saying the record “is one we’re proud of.”
“We’ve worked hard to reduce taxes when we could afford it, we’ve reduced property taxes, income taxes, small business taxes,” Wall said. “Given a chance again, we’d want to do more of that.”
The bottom line, however, is there may not be many new items in the Sask. Party policy book.
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