The Saskatchewan Party has chosen its new leader, and the province’s new Premier. After five ballots, Scott Moe took the leadership race with 53.87 per cent of the vote, over Alanna Koch with 46.13 per cent.
While Moe was the eventual victor, he did not lead the polls all night. He was second to Koch until the fourth ballot, when the elimination of Gord Wyant saw him gain enough support to take the lead, but by a slim margin. After Ken Cheveldayoff was eliminated Moe secured his lead over Koch.
Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit was an early supporter of Moe’s leadership bid. While he says that the entire field of candidates was qualified, he had felt that Moe was the best qualified to lead the province, and he was happy to see the results.
“When he was our advanced education minister, the few things that we worked on together, I started noticing his leadership qualities and potential. When he became environment minister, and represented us not only in the province nationally but internationally, representing Saskatchewan’s environment and other interests, I realized how suited he was to the job.”
The evening went about how Ottenbreit expected, as he thought Moe’s support in second and third ballot support was strong. While he admits that he was nervous going into the vote, the result proves he was right to endorse Moe from the beginning.
The opposition NDP reacted to Moe’s leadership with an ad proclaiming it to be the same old Saskatchewan Party, with interim leader Nicole Sarauer saying “for the people of Saskatchewan, it’s going to be the same bad management and cruel and heartless cuts” in a release. Ottenbreit isn’t bothered by the opposition’s campaign.
“It’s the same thing we’ve seen from them for a number of years. I’m sure that they’ve had their ad written before the leadership convention, just with insert name and gender here.”
Now preparing for the spring session on March 12, there will be a lot of change in the government. There will be a new leader of the opposition as well, a new speaker of the house, and three new MLAs after by-elections in Swift Current, Melfort and Kindersley.
“Aside from the renewal Brad Wall was talking about we will see some renewal right in the legislative assembly,” Ottenbreit said.
