Mandryk: Merry Christmas folks…

By Murray Mandryk

For the second straight year, about the only gift appropriate for both Saskatchewan politicians and the people as a whole seems to be the gift of good health.

This is second consecutive year in which COVID-19 is dampening Christmas merriment.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. This was going to be the year when the virus would run its course and vaccines — a newly arriving miracle a year — would relegate COVID-19 to a chapter of our history. It didn’t yet worked out that way.

But maybe because of COVID-19, we have learned to more appreciate our health, the things we do have and the people around us.

For that reason, maybe we should appreciate people we don’t normally appreciate … like our politicians.

So in both the spirit of the season where traditions are a big part of our annual celebration, let us again offer gifts to deserving politicians who have often been treated less kindly in this space.

Let us begin with Premier Scott Moe, who was under siege for much of 2021 from both people who said he wasn’t doing enough to curb the spread of COVID-19 and those who argued he was doing too much.

Whether he did actually get the timing right can be a debate for any another day. But for today, kudos the Premier for having the courage impose restrictions until July 11th and re-impose them in September to stop swelling case counts and deaths. Neither choice was easy.

Nor were the choices that had to be made by Health Minister Paul Merriman easy. Merriman often came under fire for not being firmer on restrictions that many argue resulted in overcrowded ICUs.

Further kudos to Merriman for the heartfelt kindness he demonstrated in his change of heart that resulted in the decision for taxpayers to cover the Finn family’s crippling $832,000 US medical bill for a needed procedure for their son Conner.

It was a year in which most politicians came under fire for one COVID-19-related issue or another.

Many argue Education Minister Dustin Duncan was wrong to send is letter to school boards saying they must allowed to partake in extra-curricular activities, even if they were not vaccinated. While criticized for undermining health authorities, Duncan was firm in standing up for the principle of children having a normal year.

But full credit to Opposition leader Ryan Meili and his small NDP caucus for holding the government’s feet to the fire on these issues. As noted by Moe, this is the job of the Opposition and — for the most part — they did it well.

Special kudos goes to Meili and the NDP for taking on Policing and Corrections Minister Christine Tell and Opposition House Leader Jeremy Harrison on the still-unexplained bill that takes security responsibilities away from the Sergeant-at-Arms.

We would be remiss in not thanking Speaker Randy Weekes and Sergeant-at-Arms Terry Quinn and his staff for the unbiased and professional way they conducted themselves — especially, during this debate.

It was a tough year for many, including

Finance Minister Donna Harpauer who contended with a 2.7-billion deficit and Agriculture Minister David Merit who contended with a drought that contributed to that deficit.

While it seems doubtful that Harpauer and Merit will be exchanging Christmas cards with the Agriculture Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), credit to both politicians for how they have handled this tough year.

It was tough year for issues in nursing homes, in group homes for intellectually challenged people and on First Nations where residential school graves were discovered. Thanks to Moe, and ministers Everett Hindley, Lori Carr and Don McMorris for their handling of these matters.

And thanks to all in what was a tough 2021. May 2022 be a better year.