Former NDP candidate Morin running as independent in Regina Walsh Acres

Saskatchewan’s NDP wouldn’t let Sandra Morin run as one of its candidates, so now the former cabinet minister will be running against that party in Regina Walsh Acres.

On Friday morning, Morin announced her intention to run in the riding as an independent candidate. She said it was a difficult decision only made in the last day, but she decided to continue on with her campaign because of the support she got from both within and outside of the party.

The NDP announced late Thursday night that a new candidate had been chosen to run for the party in Regina Walsh Acres.

Morin had been nominated by the riding association early last year, but early this month it came out that NDP Leader Ryan Meili wouldn’t sign her nomination papers.

“The only endorsement that really matter is from my home community of Regina Walsh Acres, and from the NDP members who have placed their confidence in me to be a real alternative for change this upcoming election,” Morin said Friday.

The entire constituency association and election planning committee have followed Morin from the NDP.

In her speech, Morin threw out some jabs at the Sask. Party, talking about mismanagement of the province and its finances, and also saying the party doesn’t care about the people of the riding because it hadn’t called a byelection after Warren Steinley stepped down to run for the federal Conservatives in last year’s federal election.

By this fall’s election day, the riding will have been without a representative for 13 months.

Morin also had some sharp words for Meili, saying what the province needs is a change to politics as usual.

“But we don’t have that kind of leadership with Mr. Meili, who has chosen to pick a fight with his own party members and with me in Regina Walsh Acres, instead of focusing on the responsibilities of holding the government to account and working to build change,” said Morin.

Meili earlier wouldn’t explain why he wouldn’t sign Morin’s papers, saying there was a confidentiality agreement. Meili would only say that the reasons were “compelling.”

Morin knows what the reasons are but refuses to reveal them.

“I have no interest in releasing vexatious accusations by Mr. Meili. I am going to move forward as the residents of Regina Walsh Acres and as the NDP members in Regina Walsh Acres have asked me to do,” said Morin.

“I let my credibility stand on its own, I have nothing to hide. I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Morin still holds her lifetime membership with the NDP and says she still has strong feelings and affiliations with the party, and that’s not going to change.

“It is something that I’m very proud of in terms of my background and in terms of the legacy the NDP has in this province of good governance,” she said. “Clearly, I was hoping that Mr. Meili and I could come to a resolve in terms of how things should proceed, and so Mr. Meili and I are clearly at odds on that situation.”

But Morin also said her platform will be different, and she separates herself from the NDP saying she’s the real alternative to politics as usual.

Morin said her campaign is for anyone sick of the Sask. Party or NDP, anyone who has been denied what they’ve worked hard for, and anyone who has had their “efforts and accomplishments devalued by someone just looking out for themselves.”

Ironically, Morin was to serve as the NDP’s riding association president in Regina Walsh Acres after Barb Dedi was fired earlier this week. Morin resigned from that post Thursday night.