Yesterday, I made a fairly big claim, that the Sask Party has become completely ideologically driven. How did this happen? What can we do about it? Come with me for an exploration of the issue. I'm enjoying these threads, so join me for another #skpoli 🧵. (Unrolled at the end)
The Sask Party was originally founded to try to coalesce opposition to the then-dominant NDP, and to rebuild the badly damaged conservative brand in the province (Highly topical Grant Devine thread upcoming).
The Canadian west had been on a steady walk towards the political right for the last 50 years, so it was a logical step. And for what it’s worth, conservatism isn’t automatically bad. The ideal healthy political climate has a balance between progressivism and conservatism.
Progressives push us forward, conservatives guard against waste, excess, and the like. That isn’t what’s happening in Saskatchewan. There are lots of reasons for this, but one stands above all others. In the words of Elections Sask:
Source: elections.sk.ca/candidates-pol…
Source: elections.sk.ca/candidates-pol…
“There are no donation limits on contributions to registered political parties or candidates. Donations can be accepted from Canadian citizens regardless of where they reside. No donations can be accepted by non-Canadian citizens if they do not reside in Canada”
In Saskatchewan, political donations are functionally unlimited. Anyone, from anywhere, can donate any amount. Completely unrestricted donations means that influence can come from anywhere, at any level.
pressprogress.ca/one-fifth-of-t…
pressprogress.ca/one-fifth-of-t…
The Sask Party, seems to find this completely appropriate. But what does that mean in practice? Political fundraising is a treadmill. People need money to get elected, and stay elected. But how do you get those sweet corporate donations? By making corporation-friendly policies.
Hold wages down. Weaken unions. Make sweetheart deals. Do softball interviews on radio stations controlled by corporate donors. As a result, issues around individuals get missed. Eventually one becomes completely consumed by catering to donors, as has happened to the Sask Party.
Questionable deals become the norm. Like when top Sask Party corporate donor, Brandt, got to put on office in the previously-protected Wascana Park, under the guise of helping the CNIB, who get to share in a portion of the building.
leaderpost.com/news/saskatche…
leaderpost.com/news/saskatche…
There are so many problems with this, but the main problem is the exclusion of Saskatchewan’s people in the decision-making process. The Sask Party has become entirely focused on corporate donors. For evidence, look no further than our baffling covid response.
Why go against recommendations from doctors, the majority of Saskatchewan residents, and MHOs? It’s because businesses don't want restrictions. They have a vested interest in business as usual. So we sacrifice safety, jobs, and lives at the altar of the economy.
Ask yourself why, last Christmas, private gatherings were restricted, but businesses could stay open normally? They weren’t reluctant to implement vaccine passports for fear of anti-vaxxers. They were worried about reducing foot traffic into businesses.
Nothing mattered more than the APPEARANCE of normalcy. So how do we fix this? How do we free our province from the corporate oligarchy it risks devolving into? Three steps, ranging from short term to long term. Step 1) Get informed.
Our government has mastered the art of misleading PR. An informed public cannot be easily deceived. Step 2) Advocate. The Sask Party loves nothing more than to muddy the waters of a public debate.
Most people don’t even know about our completely broken political contribution system. Step 3) Demand change. Below is a list of Sask Party donors. Hold them to account. If you do business with them, ask them why they support our government.
If their reasons don’t hold water, take your business elsewhere.
Money poisons politics. The less corporate money involved in our decision making process, the better our people will be represented.
saskpartydonors.ca
/thread
Thank you for coming to my ted talk
Money poisons politics. The less corporate money involved in our decision making process, the better our people will be represented.
saskpartydonors.ca
/thread
Thank you for coming to my ted talk
@threadreaderapp unroll
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