Shayne Saskiw will be sworn in today as MLA for Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills, but he’s been going full-steam ahead in his new job since the April 23 election.
The swearing-in ceremony today takes place in advance of the session opening on May 23. At that time, there will be a Throne Speech, and every MLA will have the opportunity to speak, said Saskiw, adding, “I’m expecting that that will be my first foray into the legislature.” But he’s already been busy doing research in relation to his role within the Official Opposition’s shadow cabinet, as well as fielding inquiries from constituents on prickly matters such as health care and power bills.
As one of two lawyers in the Wildrose team, Saskiw has taken the role of justice and solicitor general critic, what he calls a “natural” fit. He will also be the Wildrose’s deputy house leader, a role in which he is already immersing himself by doing his homework on parliamentary procedure and standing orders. It’s not a difficult task, he says, adding, “You just have to do the work.”
Last week, Premier Alison Redford announced her new cabinet, which will include some familiar faces, such as Thomas Lukaszuk in a new role as deputy minister, and some fresh faces, including three newly elected MLAs from Calgary.
“We have a good mix of new and experienced MLAs. This is a team that is committed to the positive, constructive plan that we put forward during the election campaign that will help to build Albertans’ future,” Premier Alison Redford said in a press release, following the cabinet announcement.
One criticism from the Wildrose party was over the lack of representation from Alberta’s rural north, what Saskiw called the “economic driver of the province.
“I think the north, particularly Fort McMurray and Lac La Biche, have specific concerns and I was pretty shocked the government didn’t provide any representation there,” he said.
But the party and Saskiw were glad to see that the size of cabinet was decreased by two positions to 19, with ministries combined. For instance, the Wildrose had suggested that the justice and solicitor general post become combined, a change which Redford affected with her current cabinet. “If they copy our ideas, that’s a good thing. If it results in good government, we’re happy,” he said.
In the short time since he has been elected, Saskiw has already been in the provincial limelight as the point man for the Wildrose party in responding to Justice Major’s report on MLA compensation, which came out on May 2.
“It was surreal,” he said of his experience in the media room. Major is an “exceptionally articulate and intelligent” man and someone for whom Saskiw has respect as a legal mind and writer. “It was really neat to sit in the chair he was sitting in. It was a humbling experience.”
So far, his experience in his new job as MLA has been “absolutely outstanding,” he said, adding it will be an “enormous task” to represent the people of the constituency – both those who supported him, and those who did not. “I hope to earn the trust of people who may not have voted for me in the last election, over the next four years.’
