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Early discontent with the Sask. Party?

Now don't get me wrong. The Saskatchewan Party government is, by no means, in trouble. For one thing, there's only been one one-term government in the history of this province. That the Sask.

Now don't get me wrong. The Saskatchewan Party government is, by no means, in trouble.

For one thing, there's only been one one-term government in the history of this province. That the Sask. Party still is at something close to 50 per cent of the popular vote in the polls strongly suggests that there won't be a second one any time soon.

Moreover, NDP leader Dwain Lingenfelter remains personally unpopular - even in urban Saskatchewan where the NDP have historically been strong. Expect Brad Wall's future as premier to be secure past the 2011 election.

But all that said, governing isn't quite as much fun for Sask. Party MLAs as it once was. And while those troubles may not be enough to dislodge the Sask. Party from office, there are even early signs of disenchantment with the Sask. Party in rural Saskatchewan.

Take the recent agriculture support announcement of $30 an acre that came on the same day that Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the briefest of brief stops to inspect the flood damage in the Yorkton area.

Now, one might think that biggest single provincial emergency relief payout (the province's share of $360 million going to Saskatchewan amounts to $144 million while Ottawa is putting in the other $216 million) combined by a visit from a caring Prime Minister would have residents overjoyed.

Unfortunately, that $30 an acre - even combined with the $50 an acre from crop insurance - allows farmers little more than the ability to keep the weeds down.

Regardless of what you've heard from supportive voices like Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) President Dave Marit, those 12 million acres of unseeded or flooded land are a growing source of frustration.

And with SaskPower set to increase their rates in a month, farmers have legitimate reason to wonder why a government can provide electrical utility employees with an average $100,000 salary yet can't do more for farmers.

Nor did Harper's visit necessarily help matters all that much. While there might have been some in Yorkton grateful that a Prime Minister would even show up, his brief pit stop that contained no public comment to the media or anyone else have left some wondering whether the Prime Minister was there for any reason other than a photo on someone's future campaign brochure.

Certainly, Wall can't be blamed for this. In fact, it was the Saskatchewan Premier who pleaded with the PM to come out here and it is Wall who has been visible in flood- and tornado-damaged area with little fanfare. But one has to wonder if the Saskatchewan's Premier's close association with Harper might now wind up hurting him.

There again, it's not Wall's biggest worry right now.

While oil revenue and potash are about on course with budget projections, there just isn't a lot of extra cash coming in this year. There are, however, a lot of extra budget expenses - the aforementioned $144 million to farmers is will be part of about $300 million in additional flooding costs. (A little help from Harper to pay for flooded basements might have helped.)

And there are signs that this is getting to the government MLAs. Witness recent comment from government House leader Dan D'Autremont in the Moosomin World-Spectator in response to hospital bed closures in Wawota.

"People complained about the highways and now they're complaining about these beds," D'Autremont is quoted as saying. "Which do they want? Highways or health care?

Well, it would seem rather legitimate for rural people to expect both from a Sask. Party that once insisted it wouldn't force rural voters to choose like the NDP did.

Maybe it's not enough to cause voters to turn against the Sask. Party yet.

But there are more unhappy people with the Sask. Party than there once were.

Murray Mandryk has been covering provincial politics for over 15 years.

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