The man who once represented northern Saskatchewan in the House of Commons has ended his bid to become Saskatchewan’s next premier.
Former Conservative MP Rob Clarke officially shut down his campaign for Saskatchewan Party leadership on Dec. 13,
less than a month after he began his run for
Brad Wall’s job.
Clarke would have become the province’s first-ever indigenous premier if elected.
Clarke’s campaign took many unexpected twists and turns. His run for the spot began with a statement video posted online, where he pledged to be different. Clarke called himself “the NDP’s worst nightmare” in the video, in which he also pledged to shake up the ruling party’s establishment. Clarke later stated he wanted to tackle topics considered sensitive by the current government, such as the Global Transportation Hub program and northern and indigenous issues.
Early in his campaign, Clarke proposed a $100 million dollar stimulus package for the province, which would have included a one per cent increase in provincial sales tax. The plan was announced one year after the provincial government increased the PST from five to six per cent, and at a time when Saskatchewan is considered a “have” province by the federal government – one of only four currently considered such. Clarke later clarified that his PST proposal would only apply to certain items, like construction materials.
Clarke also proposed scrapping an upcoming wage freeze for provincial public sector employees and announced a package of reforms to provincial justice policies and police support.
After announcing his basic platform, Clarke seemed to make more news off the campaign trail than he did on it.
Clarke, an RCMP officer by trade, made headlines in late November after video surfaced of him confronting an alleged bike thief in Saskatoon and assisting Saskatoon police in his arrest.
During his campaign, an anti-abortion political group interviewed Clarke. In the interview, Clarke stated that he believed First Nations people “don’t believe in abortion,” a statement that earned him scorn from across the political spectrum and a rebuke from FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron.
Clarke only took part in one leadership debate, held in Weyburn on
Nov. 30.
Clarke has officially endorsed rival Ken Cheveldayoff for the spot, which will be filled on Jan. 27.
As a result of pulling his leadership bid, Clarke was refunded $10,000 of the $25,000 filing fee he paid to enter the race.
