Career Civil Servant fired by Sask. Party Transition Team ordered Re-instated

A career civil servant who had promoted through the ranks over his 34 year career has been found to have been unjustly and inappropriately fired.

In a recent ruling, the Saskatchewan Public Service Commission has overturned the firing of Allan Walker - who was terminated, apparently on the recommendation (instructions) of an unelected, unaccountable Sask. Party operative who was contracted by Premier Brad Wall to hand-pick certain government employees to be fired following the last provincial election.

I posted an entry about this situation on July 10, 2008: Sask. Party gov’t faces questions in Walker wrongful dismissal case

Following the release of the 19 page decision a number of articles have appeared in local newspapers and on-line:

Commission slams civil service firings - CBC Sask. web site
New gov'ts asked to stop firing civil servants - Hall - Leader-Post
It's time for some civil behaviour - Mandryk - Leader-Post
Political purges slammed - Dawg's Blawg
Fired civil servant wins case - Mandryk - StarPhoenix
PSC blasts Sask. Party gov’t over Walker firing; Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz oblivious - Owls and Roosters Blog

One of my favourite quotes from the decision is:

"To arbitrarily end the careers of competent public leaders without cause based on political direction sends a message to the remaining and prospective employees that a public service career is at best a matter of who you know rather than what you know or what you are capable of accomplishing."

You can download and read the entire decision by clicking here.

The Road to Hypocisy and Betrayal

There is a new posting over at the Owls and Roosters Blog entitled: Equalization: Premier Brad Wall sets new standard for hypocrisy and betrayal; elephant in the room is Prime Minister Stephen Harper, not litigation.

It's well worth the read.

Sask. Party gov’t faces questions in Walker wrongful dismissal case

Check out the latest posting on the "Owls and Roosters" Blog entitled: Sask. Party gov’t faces questions in Walker wrongful dismissal case; Premier Brad Wall, Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz & Doug Emsley short on answers.

Makes you wonder - Who's calling the shots?

Government termination of long-time civil servants a witch hunt

An article by Regina Leader-Post senior political reporter, Murray Mandryk, in the Thursday, June 26, 2008 issue of the paper reveals that the Sask. Party government engaged in what can only be described as a witch hunt when they terminated long-time civil servants as part of their so-called "transition" to power.

The article further reveals that the person who (it appears) was actually calling the shots is an unelected individual from the "transition team" - presumably appointed by the Premier.

You can read the complete article by clicking here. It's a stark illustration of how ideological, vindictive and just plain mean-spirited the new government is. And that a small, tight group of unelected, unaccountable, conservative party loyalists are the ones who are actually running the show.

There is a follow-up article by Mandryk in the June 27 paper entitled: Krawetz testifies, hearing concludes. Excerpt:

"Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz said he had neither personal reasons nor any information to suggest that former civil servant Allan Walker could not have performed his job for a Saskatchewan Party government.

Such personnel assessments were "largely made by Doug Emsley" -- a long-time party supporter and private businessman briefly contracted to work for Premier Brad Wall's office during the transition phase, Krawetz testified at a Public Service Commission hearing Thursday. It was Emsley that had a "discussion" with Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Wynne Young on who had "lost the confidence of the government."

The Vanishing Wheat Sheaf

Early on in the mandate following the election of the new Brad Wall team, the Sask. Party government announced that they would be eliminating the "stylized wheat sheaf" as a symbol of Saskatchewan. This announcement resulted in much public outcry from the citizens of the province who, over the years, have grown quite fond of the symbol.

As a result, the Sask. Party government backed away from their stated intention and announced that they had a change of heart and accordingly would not be abandoning the much loved symbol.

Now in my job, I get a lot of correspondence from government officials, agencies, ministries and departments - low and behold, the letterheads are changing and by stealth the much admired "wheat sheaf" is being systematically dropped. In fact, go to the Provincial Government website at: http://www.gov.sk.ca/ and see if you can find it. Play along for fun and prizes!

Is that how the Sask Party runs the province? Say one thing - do the opposite.

Is the Corporate Sector Calling the Shots with Sask. Party Government?

Today over at the Owls and Roosters blog - blog owner, Joe Kuchta has posted a very thorough and comprehensive analysis of the corporate influences at play with the current Sask. Party government.

Kuchta distills the past 9 years of corporate donations to the Sask. Party from information contained in their annual filings with Elections Saskatchewan. In addition he points to significant legislative initiatives and government policy directives. His analysis is hard to argue with.

Check it out here.

Sask. Party government in the 'Hip Pocket' of business

An article in the May 2, 2008 edition of the Regina Leader-Post by James Wood reveals that the Sask. Party got a whopping $3.02 million in donations from Corporations during the 2007 fiscal year: (Sask. Party beats NDP in election fund raising).

The article is based on the annual reports of financial disclosure posted and now available on the Elections Saskatchewan web-site.

You can download a copy of the Sask. Party annual report here: SP 2007 Report
To compare, you can download a copy of the NDP's annual report here: NDP 2997 Report

CBC reports that RAWLCO gave the Sask. Party more than $100,000.00.

My favourite part of the Woods article is reproduced below:

"The financial documents come just weeks after the Saskatchewan Party accused the NDP of being puppets of organized labour for its reliance on union donations -- $165,999 in the 2007 documents.

University of Saskatchewan political scientist David McGrane said it was a dangerous argument for the Saskatchewan Party to make given its dominance in business money.

"It's easy to turn that around now and say the Saskatchewan Party is in the back pockets of the corporations ... like it's been said before, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," said McGrane with a laugh in an interview Thursday."

HYPOCRITES! Every last one of them!

Kathy Young, Premier Brad Wall & Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski in 1991 video

Wander over to the "Owls and Roosters Blog" for the best analysis, so far, of the now infamous 1991 Saskatchewan Conservative Hate Video.

Blog owner, Joe Kuchta does a masterful job of chronicling the double standard and hypocrisy of members of the Sask. Party, members of the Federal Conservatives, and of other right-wing political operatives and their supporters.

He also challenges a number of members of the mainstream media for what can only be described as some of the worst examples of a double standard and media bias, that we've seen in this province in decades.

If this was anybody else, other than the current conservative governments of Saskatchewan and Ottawa, who had produced this video, we would be hearing relentless calls to have them punished and punished severely.

.

Apologies appreciated,

but actions speak louder than words.

Correction: I don't think "all" members of the mainstream media are biased. Just some of them. For instance, I don't think Murray Mandryk is.

Wall, Lukiwski, Young, Bernston, et al. - Full Video

HATE

Here are links to two videos on the Global National Web-Site about the political goings on in Saskatchewan today. (April 3, 2008) - Videos will open in an external window.

Global - Video 1
Global - Video 2
Full video from CBC Site

Photo credit - canada.com

Station 20 West: Sask. Party health critic Don McMorris raised no concerns with development at March 2007 committee meeting

Check out a new posting over on the "Owls and Roosters" Blog by Joe Kuchta about the Sask. Party government's recent announcement that they are pulling the funding on the Saskatoon community development project "Station 20 West".

More ideological rooted hypocrisy from our new government.

"On Mar. 26, when he confirmed that the Saskatchewan Party government would not honour a previous funding commitment made by the former NDP government of $8 million for the Station 20 West mixed-use development in Saskatoon, Finance Minster Rod Gantefoer said when his new government took a look at the project, “there were a number of problems.”

He managed to cite only one, though, and it turned out to be completely wrong." (read more....)

Setting the record straight

I think it is important to set the record straight regarding efforts by the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) to foster a relationship of mutual respect, consultation and cooperation with the current Sask. Party government.

On November 7, 2007, the Sask. Party was elected to form government in the province of Saskatchewan under the leadership of now Premier Brad Wall.

On November 14, 2007 - I wrote to Premier Wall, congratulating him on his victory. See that letter here.

On November 21, 2007 - I wrote a further letter to Premier Wall on my own behalf and on behalf of organizations representing thousands of Saskatchewan citizens offering to meet with the Premier, his Cabinet and Caucus for the purposes of working with the new government in the further development of our province. See that letter here.

For reasons known only to the Premier, and his cabinet and caucus - they are not prepared to meet with us.

We (the SFL) have, since day 1, been prepared to work with the new government in a cooperative, productive and respectful manner. The government has shown little sign of being interested in such an approach. In fact, many of the government's actions are a direct attack on basic and fundamental, constitutional and human rights of working women and men in this province.

The government refuses to engage in meaningful consultation with working people and their organizations about legislative intiatives that directly impact on the Charter Rights of a significant segment of the citizenry.

The choices about what type of industrial relations and labour relations climate will exist in Saskatchewan are being made by Premier Brad Wall and the Sask. Party government.

Doublespeak!

According to Wikipedia "doublespeak" is described as follows:

"Doublespeak is language deliberately constructed to disguise or distort its actual meaning, often resulting in a communication bypass. Such language is often associated with governmental, military, political, religious, secular, interest group and corporate institutions and its deliberate use by these is what distinguishes it from other euphemisms."

There is an excellent new posting over on the "Owls and Roosters Blog" posted Feb. 1, 2008 entitled: "Graham Parsons & Prairie Policy Centre: economist and think tank push conservative message; major players contributed to Sask. Party". The article pulls the covers off of the Saskatchewan based "ultra-hard-right-wing propaganda machine" called the "Prairie Policy Centre".

Owls and Roosters Blog owner Joe Kuchta does a masterful job of weaving together and exposing the organization, it's key players, the hard-right ideology, the contradictions, and the political connections. It's well worth reading.

Is what we are seeing right now from organizations such as the Prairie Policy Centre, and others on the hard-right, classic Doublespeak?

Political Firings in Saskatchewan - Another Analysis

Wander on over to the "Owls and Roosters Blog" and read a new entry entitled:

"Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz says firings about towing the party line, more to come; Premier Brad Wall betrays own words from Aug. 2007 letter"

Its an analysis and commentary about the recent Political Firings carried out by the new Sask. Party Government including the full text of Brad Wall's pre-election (Aug. 30, 2007), letter to the editor respecting the topic of firings in the civil service following elections.

It can be argued that there are some serious contradictions between what was said, and what's been done.

70 Sask. civil servants being dismissed, minister says

If you don't share the same philosophy as the new Premier - YOU'RE FIRED!

CBC Saskatchewan Website runs the following story:

70 Sask. civil servants being dismissed, minister says

The story reads (emphasis added):

"Krawetz said people were being evaluated individually, on their ability to do the job, and on whether they share the same philosophy as the new premier."

Regina Leader-Post coverage.

Enterprise Saskatchewan: Ministry sends over 55 organizations more than one invitation; SUN, SUMA, SARM, NSBA, STEP omitted

Joe Kuchta over at the "Owls and Roosters Blog" has just posted an analysis of the invitations to submit nominations for Enterprise Saskatchewan which have been sent out by the Ministry of Innovation and Enterprise.

He raises some interesting and puzzling questions. Read Joe's posting here.

Wall heads to Ottawa a changed man - Mandryk

I thought Leader-Post political columnist Murray Mandryk did a particularly good job of the column he wrote in today's (Jan. 9, 2008) edition:

"Wall heads to Ottawa a changed man
Murray Mandryk, The Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Whether a job automatically changes a man is debatable.

What it clearly does do, however, is change a man's view on matters. Witness the evolution of one Brad Wall on the topic of equalization:" read more......

Sask. Party Labour Agenda has it's roots in Washington, D.C.

Cartoon: Mike Konopacki

Wonder where the recent Sask. Party attack on worker rights has it's origin? Try Washington, D.C., the United States Chambers of Commerce and the George W. Bush Republicans.

You can read all about it at: ‘Card Check’ Takes a Hit - by Kim Moody.

The next thing we'll see in Saskatchewan is the new Sask. Party Government trying to justify why they need to dismantle the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board or stack it with anti-union appointments. Even Leader-Post political columnist Murray Mandryk made that connection.

.

Make no mistake, under the Sask. Party government Saskatchewan will have the "WORST Labour Laws in Canada".

Enterprise Saskatchewan Explained

Once again, Joe Kuchta over at the "Owls and Roosters Blog" has posted an extensive, and excellent analysis of the Sask. Party's invention: Enterprise Saskatchewan.

His most recent posting is entitled: Enterprise Saskatchewan Act: Sector teams lack transparency; labour laws not identified as barriers in Premier Brad Wall’s ‘economic vision’ .

Give it read. It's a bit long, but very comprehensive, thoughtful and insightful. It raises many questions that the citizens of Saskatchewan (and the mainstream media) should be asking the Brad Wall Sask. Party government to explain.

Does the Saskatchewan Government Think We're Stupid

Go to the Saskatchewan Government Web-site (Labour Section) which is now buried deep in the Department of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour and see how easy it is to find reference to the Trade Union Act, The Construction Industrial Relations Act, The Workers Compensation Act or The Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board.

Click this link: http://www.labour.gov.sk.ca/

Do you believe the fact there are no "Quick Links" or "Shortcuts" to these particular Important Pieces of worker legislation and agencies prominently displayed on the first page is an innocent oversight?

I don't. It's deliberate, it's anti-worker, it's anti-union, and it's vindictive.

So much for "Reaching Out to Labour"!