Veteran Sask. Party MLAs explain decisions to leave provincial politics

Two well-known faces in the Saskatchewan Party are revealing their reasons for leaving provincial politics.

Donna Harpauer and Gord Wyant are among the four veteran MLAs who announced they will not seek re-election this fall.

For Harpauer, the decision has been on her mind for a long time.

“I actually considered it the last election and chose to do four more years. At the end of this term it will be 25 years. That’s considered a very long political life, and I’m not getting younger. In my mind, it’s time.” Harpauer told Global News.

“At some point you have to go.”

The Humboldt-Watrous MLA was first elected in 1999. She said she had low expectations when she first ran and could never have imagined a career that would span a quarter of a century.

“I have to thank my constituents for their faith in me all these years, and of course my family for supporting me,” she said.

Harpauer is currently the longest-serving female cabinet minister in Canada. She’s held many important roles during her 16 years at the cabinet table, including her current roles as deputy premier and minister of finance. She will deliver her final provincial budget next month.

She said she recognizes that four party veterans departing at once is a huge change, but doesn’t believe it spells trouble for the government’s future. She called Premier Scott Moe a strong leader.

“What it tells is that a number of us hung on for a long time because we were so loyal, so committed. That doesn’t always happen,” she said.

“I have served under four leaders. All have been amazing. All have put more confidence me than I thought I should get.”

Harpauer said she hasn’t decided what she will do next, but said it will be something in Saskatchewan.

Wyant’s decision to leave the Saskatchewan Party was more sudden.

First elected in 2010, Wyant signalled his intention to seek another term when he was acclaimed last fall as the Sask. Party candidate for Saskatoon Northwest.

So what changed?

“My wife and I had had a discussion over the last number of months, and we just decided that it was time to move on,” Wyant said.

“When I was acclaimed last year, we certainly had every intention of running in the fall election this year. But we spent a little bit of time talking about where we were going to go and what we were going to do for the next four years, and I think it’s fair to my family and it’s fair to me that we spend a little bit more time in Saskatoon.”

Municipal politics is where Wyant cut his teeth in public service, chairing the public school board and serving seven years on city council in Saskatoon.

That experience has already led to speculation that he may have his eye on the soon-to-be vacant mayor’s office in Saskatoon.

While Wyant did not rule out being on the municipal ballot this fall in Saskatoon, he said he’s currently focused on his duties as minister of advanced education.

“I think the city of Saskatoon needs some strong leadership at a very difficult time in the city, and I know that there are people in the city of Saskatoon that have that strength to lead the city of Saskatoon,” he said.

“I was very flattered and humbled to have people reach out to me to suggest that I might have the talent to do that … I understand there’s a job, but I’m not applying for it – not yet.”

Wyant made similar comments on Thursday at a City of Saskatoon event.

Despite the turnover on the Sask. Party slate, Wyant said it’s an opportunity for renewal for the party — but also a chance for personal renewal as well.

“It’s always sad to leave,” he said. “I remember the first day I walked up the steps of this Legislature and one of the proudest days that I had in public life was to walk into this building as a representative and the MLA for Saskatoon Northwest. So it’ll be a sad day when you have to walk out.”

— With files from Global News and 650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker