5 veteran Sask. MLAs say farewell to political life
4 of them are founding members of the governing Saskatchewan Party
As the Saskatchewan Legislature wrapped up this week, for the final time before the next election, 10 MLAs knew for sure they would not be returning to their seats in the assembly.
Among them, are four of the eight founding members of the governing Saskatchewan Party as well as a long-serving member of the provincial NDP.
Here are a few highlights from their many years in public life.
Bob Bjornerud
First elected as a Liberal in the former constituency of Saltcoats in 1995, Bob Bjornerud is a bombastic, yet down-to-earth politician from rural Saskatchewan.
He was the party's first agriculture minister after it won the election in November 2007. Known for his candour, Bjornerud was occasionally so honest he caused himself some trouble. He told reporters in 2008 that he found it a little easier to be a critic than a government minister.
"In opposition, I could say just about anything I wanted and I did on a lot of occasions for 12 years." Bjornerud was also known for his sense of humour. After spending five years as agriculture minister, presiding over a number of animal culls and bounties, he announced he would not run again in the next election.
To reporters, he joked, "The only thing I can say today is I imagine the coyotes and the beavers and the gophers will all be breathing a sigh of relief right off the bat."
June Draude
Another former Liberal MLA, elected in Kelvington-Wadena in 1995, June Draude was often called the 'heart' of the Saskatchewan Party by its current leader, Brad Wall. Draude is well known for her heartfelt reactions to tragedies involving children during her time as Minister of Social Services.
Although she was the lone woman MLA involved in the formation of the party, Draude said she did not pay much attention to the significance of that at the time.
She was a regular around the cabinet table - serving as Minister of First Nations and Métis Relations, Northern Affairs, Crown Corporations and Social Services. It was in that latter portfolio that Draude got in hot water over some travel expenses in London.
Ken Krawetz
He is known as much for his high-decibel performances in the Legislature as he is for wearing his heart on his sleeve, whether in speeches about his family or his beloved Ukrainian roots.
His passion for education led this former teacher and school division official to eventually run for election in Canora-Pelly for the Liberal party in 1995. He said that victory helped him earn the nickname "Landslide" after winning by 50 votes.
One of the founding MLAs in the Saskatchewan Party, Krawetz was also the new party's interim leader as well as deputy premier and finance minister under Premier Brad Wall.
Don Toth
The longest-serving provincial politician to say farewell to his colleagues this week is Moosomin MLA Don Toth, who was elected in 1986 as a Progressive Conservative — which saw him take a seat in government, then opposition and then back in government again.
He was one of four PC MLAs to join with four Liberals to create the Saskatchewan Party a little more than a decade later. But the role he seemed to relish most was that of Speaker.
He was elected to that job after the 2007 election and told CBC the following spring how he was working hard to bring greater decorum to the legislative chamber.
John Nilson
With deep Norwegian - as well as Saskatchewan - roots, John Nilson was first elected NDP MLA in Regina Lakeview in 1995.
On or about every May 15th (Norwegian Independence Day) you can find a Hansard transcript of the legislative debate in Saskatchewan that simply says: "The hon. member spoke for a time in Norwegian."
As health minister, Nilson presided over a smoking ban in public places. He also led his party as interim leader after the defeat of leader Dwain Lingenfelter in the 2011 election.
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