Saskatory

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Blakeney / McKinnon Show-Down


I recently attended the Canadian Political Science Association Convention as part of the Congress for the Humanities and Social Sciences in Saskatoon, where I presented a paper. One of the sessions I took in during the convention was “Agrarian Socialism,” which was comprised of academics and politicians discussing Seymour Martin Lipset’s famous work, which examined the rise of the CCF in Saskatchewan in the 1940’s.

Among the panelists were Allan Blakeney and Janice McKinnon. It was interesting to see how two former politicians of the same party in different eras diverged so much on their political views. Indeed, while McKinnon was touting the importance of lower taxes and royalty rates for oil and gas, Blakeney was saying that the province should raise royalties and that if oil companies wanted our oil they would just have to pay it and if they wouldn’t pay it then the province could drill the oil itself through a crown entity. McKinnon countered that saying that lowering the royalty rates actually ended up bringing more money into the province and that having high rates is detrimental for investment in the province because it creates an anti-business perception. She also spoke of globalization and the knowledge economy and how an anti-business climate was not conducive to suceeding in such an economy. She also spoke about the jobs that would be created because of oil companies moving in. Blakeney countered this by saying that if the rates remained high, the province could create jobs from the profits. What jobs those would be he did not say, but I imagine expanding the bureaucracy or other such jobs where the workers of which would be predominantly socialist friendly is what he had in mind.

It is the persistence of thinkers like Blakeney in this province that continues to hold us back. His comments were not only out of touch with the realities of modern times but came across as absurd and lacking global vision. I would argue that a lot of the current NDP caucus that is sticking around to run in the next election is more of the Blakeney mindset than the McKinnon school. For instance, while we are losing more centrist members like Eric Cline and Andrew Thomson, we get to keep Pat Atkinson and good ole Lorne himself. In fact, McKinnon herself said that after 1999 the party had lost touch with the common people after losing nearly all of its rural seats and the effect of that was palpable in caucus meetings.

What was perhaps more interesting was the fact that Ms. McKinnon stated no less than four times that the NDP will lose the next election. She can see that the writing is on the wall for this tired NDP regime. I am not on the ins enough to know whether or not McKinnon even holds party membership in the provincial NDP at this time. However, I doubt that she does. Listening to her you would think she is a right of centre Liberal or maybe even Conservative. She would likely fit well within the Saskatchewan Party caucus and would be a definite asset to the new government. Also, with the emergence of Senate elections in Canada, she would be well-suited to run for a Senate seat representing Saskatchewan. One thing remains clear – the people of Saskatchewan would benefit from having her advocate on their behalf, no matter at which level of government it is.

8 Comments:

  • Have you every listened to Dick Spencer saskatory? He is a very interesting man and very insightful on the old PC party, He signed by book (Singing the Blues The Conservatives in Sasktchewan), I said to him as he was signing it that I am likely the only 16 year old who has read your book. He was glad that I take interest in politics and said I should talk to him sometime again.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:04 PM  

  • No, huffb1, I've never listened to Dick Spencer. I'll have to check that book out.

    By Blogger Saskatory, at 8:15 AM  

  • What are your thoughts on Christine Tell, conspiracy theories or is this what we should expect from a SP government?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:19 PM  

  • I'm really not up to snuff enough to comment on the Christine Tell thing. I don't know for sure what went on and so what should be done. However, I don't think that the entire party can be painted with the same brush as one of their 58 candidates. I don't think this should be seen as a sign of what is to come with a Sask Party government.

    By Blogger Saskatory, at 10:22 PM  

  • Nice evasion but I get the impression that all Tories are crooked.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:31 AM  

  • Anon: So the Sask NDP haven't had any scandals? Quit trolling.

    By Blogger deaninregina, at 2:42 PM  

  • To deaninregina:

    Let's be kind to our NDP friends. It can't be easy for them, knowing that their beloved government is going to go down in flames whenever the good Premier works up the nerve to call the election.

    By Blogger Brian in Calgary, at 3:05 PM  

  • Great posting Saskatory! You are spot on in your interpretation of the old school vs really old school/new school NDP. The pragmatic members from the NDP caucus are bailing out while the fools and the thuds are staying around to fight. When an old cabinet minister is saying the writing is on the wall, I believe it's over.

    BTW, I love how the anonymous posters LOVE to bring up Christine Tell. Was it OK to squander funds in Spudco, Channel Lake, Murdoch Carrier and Navigata? What about Pat Atkinson slapping around her own MA? If all of these are unacceptable behaviors, then we can lump in Christine Tell also. People in glass houses should not throw stones!!!

    By Blogger Scott C, at 11:20 PM  

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