Former MLA adds drama to Coronation Park byelection campaign

The byelection race to replace former Regina Coronation Park MLA Mark Docherty became more interesting after recent comments by Docherty.

In February, Docherty resigned his seat to pursue other opportunities.

Less than two weeks ago, Docherty appeared on a Saskatchewan politics podcast, The Skoop, and spoke about the current state of politics in the province and his time as the representative of Coronation Park.

He talked about being asked questions by his constituents.

"They said, 'What have you done for us? What's your legacy? What infrastructure has been put in place in regards to Coronation Park?"' he said.

"And I looked and I went, oh my God, the answer is going to be nothing. I didn't know what to say and I had been advocating, lobbying," Docherty said.

On the topic of the Saskatchewan Party's "growth that works for everyone" slogan, Docherty said, "people are struggling."

"If I say that message to somebody, they kind of look at me dumbfounded. They don't understand. They're going, 'What have you done? What has this government done for us?"'

The podcast episode was released a day after Premier Scott Moe called the byelection.

Last week, the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) commended Docherty on Twitter. 

"SUMA thanks Mark Docherty for his integrity and conviction in speaking out. Mark has confirmed concerns SUMA has been raising about the continued struggles of homelessness, mental health, and addictions we see in our province, despite the economic surpluses we've seen," the tweets said.

University of Regina professor of politics and international studies Tom McIntosh called Docherty's comments "sort of unprecedented" in the history of the Saskatchewan Party.

"For someone like that to come out and say maybe we're not going in the right direction, maybe we're not representing our constituents the way we should. They have legitimate questions about what you've done for the riding."

McIntosh said former Premier Brad Wall and Premier Scott Moe have not experienced public criticism from within the party at the level of what Docherty said.