By Mario deSantis, October 4, 1999

Our Premier Romanow has become a skilled magician(1) (2) trying to pull a winning card after the other as his political survival becomes more precarious(3). Last September, the Saskatchewan electorate voted in a minority NDP government. However, after secretive backroom talks with the Liberal Leader Jim Melenchuk, Roy Romanow was able to reach a coalition agreement and bring into the governmental fold the three Liberal MLAs: Jim Melenchuk as Minister of Education, Jack Hillson as Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, and Ron Osika as the potential Speaker of the legislature.

While Romanow described the coalition agreement as one of high principle and high vision(4), most provincial journalists were of the opinion that the agreement was tainted with dishonesty and inconsistencies(5). Liberal party president Rod MacDonald said that he was not consulted about the coalition deal, and that "...Jim Melenchuk and the others made their decisions strictly for personal gain... These guys have completely sold out their constituents, they've completely sold out rural Saskatchewan and they've completely sold out the Liberal party... These people have, in my judgment, have given the party and the people of Saskatchewan the finger..."(6) Equally furious about this coalition deal were former party leader Lynda Haverstock(7), Senator Davey Steurt, Senator Herb Sparrow, and most Liberal members across the province(8).

The parties to the coalition agreement are the NDP and the Liberal parties(9). However, the present Liberal MLAs have alienated themselves from the party and if the move to toss them out of the party is successful in the next Liberal Convention, the coalition agreement could become a private contractual agreement to satisfy the personal greed of our present Liberal and NDP members of the legislature.

Endnotes

1. Roy Romanow: The Ultimate Electoral Number Game In Education, by Mario deSantis, August 29, 1999. Published in the North Central Internet News

2. Premier Romanow's Latest Magics: Shuffling Numbers & Mysterious Bank Account, by Mario deSantis, May 15, 1999. Published in the North Central Internet News

3. Premier shows survival skills, SP Opinions, FORUM, The StarPhoenix, October 1, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

4. Coalition government: New Demotrats, Liberals form historic alliance, by Murray Mandryk, The StarPhoenix, October 1, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

5. Coalition move fuels cynicism, by Mark Wyatt, The StarPhoenix, FORUM, October 1, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

6. Party president wants Melenchuk ousted, by Murray Mandryk, The StarPhoenix, September 30, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

7. Melenchuk out of his league: Haverstock, By Bonnie Braden, The StarPhoenix, October 1, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

8. Party members furious with Melenchuk, by Randy Burton, October 1, 1999, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

9. Text of the coalition agreement, The StarPhoenix, October 1, 1999 page A7, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan