Three former Sask. Party members back the NDP ahead of provincial election

Three previous Saskatchewan Party members are heading to the polls in support of the NDP.

Former MLAs Mark Docherty, Glen Hart, and former advisor to Brad Wall, Ian Hanna, stood behind NDP Leader Carla Beck in front of the Legislative Building on Thursday.

“I think that the Sask. Party has lost their way,” Docherty said.

The three members are in addition to Speaker Randy Weekes, who announced he had endorsed the NDP for the provincial election.

Docherty said his endorsement for Beck comes after the Saskatchewan Party used the notwithstanding clause to override a court injunction contesting the Parents’ Bill of Rights, which he said would “further subjugate people” who need the government’s assistance. The policy requires parental consent for children under 16 who want to change their names or pronouns at school.

“I know what she is in terms of leadership,” Docherty said. “It is time. Enough is absolutely enough, and Carla Beck is my choice for this election.”

He added that when Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe became premier he wouldn’t take meetings to discuss problems.

The former Regina Coronation Park MLA served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2018 until 2020, where he was defeated by Weekes after five rounds of voting.

In February 2023, Docherty resigned as an MLA, after he said felt “irrelevant” to the party after years of “always being on the edge.”

“I knew that they were always trying to figure out a way to get rid of us,” he said.

While Weekes has alleged he faced bullying and harassment in the legislature as Speaker, Docherty denied he experienced the same.

However, he said he felt coerced to make decisions in favour of the Sask. Party.

“We were pressurized in order to rule in the government’s favour on everything,” he said. “There was no debate.”

NEW: Three former Saskatchewan Party members are endorsing NDP Leader Carla Beck in the provincial election.

Mark Docherty, Glen Hart, and Ian Hanna stood behind Beck today. @CJMENews @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/JqlaFjLKmS

— Gillian Massie (@massie_gillian) October 17, 2024

The former MLA for Last Mountain-Touchwood, Hart, said he did not come to the decision to endorse Beck easily.

“They were putting the interest of the Sask. Party ahead of this interest of the people of the province,” he said.

Hart pointed to different Sask. Party decisions that caused him to pin an orange button to his chest. He felt the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted too soon, and preferred to see the $500 affordability cheques be “put to much better use.”

He said it was a “small crack in our democratic system” when Bill 70 passed in 2022, allowing for a new security force at the Legislative Building and surrounding grounds to answer to the Ministry of Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety instead of the buildings security being under the Sergaent-at-Arms, who is independent from government.

Ian Hanna, a speech writer and advisor to former Premier Brad Wall, said the Saskatchewan Party has strayed from goals to balance budgets and give support in classrooms.

“I didn’t leave the Saskatchewan Party,” he said. “The Saskatchewan Party left me.”

Beck thanked all three members for their support.

Moe said people have the opportunity to cast their vote how they see fit.

“If that is what they choose to support I think it would be disappointing to say the least,” he said.

Moe said he is focused on putting forward his plan to voters.

The provincial election is Oct. 28.