Been There, Done That

This week’s election was not the first time Saskatchewan has found itself without a Liberal MP to represent the province at the Cabinet table.

Back in 1980, voters in this province made the same choice. Pierre Trudeau was prime minister and when it came to select a cabinet he had to look to the Senate for a candidate because he had no options in the Liberal caucus.

His choice was Hazen Argue, a one-time CCF Member of Parliament who bolted to the Liberals in 1963. A few years later he was sent to the Senate and was enlisted to be a cabinet member when Trudeau the First failed to get any seats west of Winnipeg. He was given responsibility for the Wheat Board but, as an outsider, was not available to answer questions on the floor of the House of Commons so someone else from the government side had to fill that role.

Saskatchewan’s current options in this category are limited but Marty Klyne, a recently appointed senator with broad business experience in Regina is a likely prospect to follow in the footsteps of a Trudeau and an Argue.