Gordon Wyant joins Saskatchewan Party leadership race

Justice Minister GordonWyanthas announced he will run for the Saskatchewan Party leadership, joining three other candidates in the race to replace outgoing Premier Brad Wall.

Wyantmade the announcement in Saskatoon Friday morning.

The Saskatoon Northwest representative received support from former Sask. Party MLA June Draude and current Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart.

Wyant is aSaskatoon lawyer who has also beena trustee for the Saskatoon Public School Board and served on Saskatoon city council for three terms.He was first elected as MLA for Saskatoon Northwest in a 2010 byelection.

Wyant joinscabinet ministersTinaBeaudry-Mellor, Jeremy Harrison andKenCheveldayoffin the run for the leadership.

Wyantvows to hear concerns

Wyantsaid on Friday he would make listening a hallmark of his leadership if he wins, adding that thegovernmentfailed to hear some concerns when preparing its latest budget.

"I think as we went through this budget deliberation, I think there were some people that we didn't listen to," said Wyant.

"We need to pay a bit more attention to education and to our health-care system and I think that if we do that, we'll be making better decisions as we go forward."

He said that would need to happen while keeping a balanced budget in mind.

First Nations relations andrural crime report

Wyant also answered questions about the provincial relationship with First Nations after the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations raised concerns about the recommendations in a new rural crime report.

Under the plan, the province will launch a protection and response team made up of 120 RCMP and municipal police officers, 98 provincial conservation officersand 40 commercial vehicle enforcement officerswith the province's Ministry of Highways.

A key part of the rural crime prevention plan calls for all members of the unit to be armed, and for all members to have the power to detain and arrest people.

But the FSIN said it was not adequately consulted, and thatthe recommendations are excessive and unhelpful to the relationship between Indigenous people and police.

Wyant said further discussions were needed.

"Building communities with First Nations and other communities is important for the future of this province and I pledge to continue to do that," said Wyant.

"And I made that pledge directly to a number of chiefs, including [FSIN] Chief [Bobby] Cameron, earlier this week."

Wyant will have to step down from his role as justice minister while he campaigns for the party leadership, as will other candidates with cabinet portfolios.

Outgoing Premier Brad Wall announced on Aug. 10 he was retiring from politics after 14 years as the leader of the Saskatchewan Party.

The leadership convention will be held on Jan. 27, 2018.

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