Sask. Party leadership hopeful ends Liberal Party membership

Gord Wyant is no longer a member of the federal Liberal Party.

The Saskatchewan Party leadership hopeful faced heat that he supported a party that was introducing a carbon tax.

“If being a member of the federal party is going to at all compromise, or at least in the minds of people, compromise my ability to provide leadership to the people of Saskatchewan, keeping the people of Saskatchewan and this province first, that is the basis of my decision,” Wyant told 980 CJME.

Wyant had been a member of the federal Liberal Party for decades and believed it had never been an issue.

“It wasn’t something that was affecting my ministerial responsibilities or my MLA responsibilities,” Wyant maintained.

But it is the federal Liberal government that is introducing a national carbon tax, one that the Saskatchewan Party is staunchly against. Premier Brad Wall has been the most vocal opponent to the tax stating it will hurt Saskatchewan industries and jobs and make the country less competitive.

There are five candidates vying to replace the retiring Wall, including Wyant, Ken Cheveldayoff, Tina Beaudry-Mellor, Scott Moe and Alanna Koch.

The new leader will be selected by Saskatchewan Party members Jan. 27.