Saturday, June 04, 2005

Cabinet experience: Saskatchewan

As a follow-up to this post, here's a quick look at Saskatchewan NDP cabinet members (under Romanow and Calvert) who could conceivably run federally. (From the Blakeney era I'm not sure that anybody besides Elwood Cowley, William Knight or Don Mitchell is young enough to realistically run again, though I'd be curious to see what would happen if Blakeney himself took a shot.)
I'm working from some very rough bios, so any added information would be of use.

- Doug Anguish, MP (1980-1984, lost election), MLA (1986-1996, resigned), Minister of Energy and Mines, then Minister of Labour. Now an entrepreneur residing in Calgary (at last notice). Can't say that I know much about him, and from all indications he's thoroughly involved in the business world now...which would make him unlikely to run, but also a great addition if he did.
- Judy Bradley, MLA (1991-1999, lost election), Minister for Highways and Transportation and Minister for the Status of Women. At last notice teaching in Milestone, SK.
- Dwain Lingenfelter, MLA (1978-1986, lost election; 1988-2000, resigned), portfolios included Deputy Premier and House Leader. Now an oil executive, would be a great name...but if he wanted to be in politics he'd be Premier right now.
- Janice MacKinnon, MLA (1991-2001, resigned), portfolios included Finance Minister. Now a professor and author, she's been rumoured to run in several recent elections but has rebuffed advances.
- Jim Melenchuk, MLA (1999-2003, lost election), Minister of Education then Minister of Finance. A former Saskatchewan Liberal who formed a coalition with the NDP then crossed the floor. Party bona fides are uncertain, and I'm not sure what he's up to now.
- Bob Mitchell, MLA (1986-1999, resigned), Minister of Justice and other posts. Not sure where he is now, but have to doubt whether he'd be interested and he may not be the best example of Cabinet experience (as Minister of Justice he released the name of a young offender on a radio show).
- Ron Osika, MLA (1995-2003, lost election), Speaker of the House and other posts. Tons of legislative experience, but likely wouldn't fit terribly well with the federal NDP (he was another Liberal defector, and in fact ran for a federal Reform nomination in '93).
- Roy Romanow, MLA (1967-1982, lost election; 1986-2001, resigned), Premier (and of course Royal Commissioner on Health). Would love to see it happen, but it probably won't.
- Ned Shillington, MLA (1975-1999, resigned), assorted posts including deputy House Leader. At last notice a consultant in Calgary.
- Louise Simard, MLA (1986-1995, resigned), Minister of Health and Minister for the Status of Women. Now CEO of British Columbia's health umbrella organization after holding a similar role in Saskatchewan. File under "great candidate, but too busy elsewhere".
- Ed Tchorzewski, MLA (1971-1982, lost election; 1985-1999, resigned), Minister of Finance among other posts. Here's the one we're looking for: he was the Finance Minister who balanced the budget in '93, and has recently served as federal NDP president, chief of staff to Alexa McDonough and a special advisor to Lorne Calvert. Might be the second-best name after Romanow, and he's still involved in politics. Plus isn't there an upcoming vacancy in the "senior member and fountain of knowledge named Ed" department?

Thus ends the list. I'm not sure that there's one person on here who's actually interested in running, but there are some who could go a long way to proving that an NDP ideology can fit with a track record of good management.

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