For the first time in 26 years, Regina-Wascana will have a new face representing the riding.
Conservative Michael Kram won his seat over Liberal Ralph Goodale, who had been the riding’s MP since 1993.
“When you get into a political campaign, you develop very close bonds and it’s very intense for those 40 days of an election campaign,” Goodale said.
“Whatever transpires in the future, I will always treasure, very deeply, those personal friendships and the bonds that have tied us together.”
Those bonds, he says, “have been built out of mutual respect and trust, commitment to principles and ideals.”
Regina-Wascana was widely known as the “Goodale riding” more than a Liberal riding, in a province now made up of all Conservatives.
For those in the Regina-Wascana riding, Goodale is thankful for the opportunity and the support they showed year-after-year.
“I thank them for the mandates they have given me in the past and I thank all of you, and all of the other volunteers that you represent, for working so very hard to make this possible over the last 26 years,” Goodale said.
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Kram was quick to recognize what Goodale meant to the community and commended everything he was able to accomplish.
“I want to start by thanking Ralph Goodale for his many years of service to the people of Saskatchewan,” Kram said.
“I know we’ve been hard on him for the past six weeks, but the truth is, much of what he has said in his campaign literature is true. He has often been a strong advocate for Regina. He didn’t keep getting re-elected all those times by accident.”
That being said, Kram is ready to take over as MP of Regina-Wascana and is looking forward to speaking up for those in his riding.
“Tonight is all about what we have accomplished together…we have beaten the odds, we have beaten the skeptics and that is all because of you, the people in this room tonight,” Kram said.
“I promise you that I will show my gratitude and repay that trust by representing your interests in parliament to the best of my abilities.”
With the loss, Goodale is giving up his spot as Canada’s minister of public safety and emergency preparedness.
He was named to that position by Justin Trudeau when the Liberal Party won a majority government in the 2015 federal election.
Goodale started his run in politics in 1974 when he was elected the MP for Assiniboia, Sask., at the age of 24.
After losing in the 1979 and 1980 federal elections, Goodale moved to provincial politics.
He became the Saskatchewan Liberal Party leader in 1981, but was defeated in 1982.
Goodale won the party’s only seat in the legislature in 1986.
In 1988, Goodale returned to federal politics and ran for MP for Regina-Wascana.
He was unsuccessful, losing out to former Regina mayor and Conservative Larry Schneider.
He spent five years working in the private sector before returning to politics in 1993, where he won the first of eight elections as MP of Regina-Wascana.
More than anyone, Goodale credits the majority of his success to his wife, Pam Goodale.
“Nothing would be possible at any point in my political life if had not been for one particular individual and I just want to say to Pam thank you for standing by me all this time,” Goodale said.
“You’re my best friend, my inspiration, my sternest critic and the love of my life.”
Goodale was born in Regina and grew up on a farm near Wilcox, Sask. He is 70 years old.
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