MP for Prince Albert, Conservative Randy Hoback, says an unelected person in the Trudeau minority government cabinet to represent Saskatchewan would be a token gesture lacking a mandate. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

cabinet choices

Trudeau needs to listen to 14 Saskatchewan MPs: Hoback

Oct 29, 2019 | 5:28 PM

The three-time re-elected MP for Prince Albert has some advice for the prime minister as he tries to work out how best Saskatchewan and Alberta should be represented in the new minority government. Conservative Randy Hoback , who was elected for a fourth term this month, says Justin Trudeau should just listen.

Trudeau is consulting former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan and Ambassador to France Isabelle Hudon about the make-up of his new government, which is set to be announced Nov. 20. It will have no representative from Saskatchewan after Regina’s Ralph Goodale failed to get re-elected. Alberta is also devoid of a Liberal member following the near complete Tory sweep there.

“His [Trudeau’s] responsibility now is to listen to the 14 members of Parliament out of Saskatchewan and to listen to the premier,” Hoback told paNOW. “If he seeks our advice we’ll give it to him, and if he’s wise he’d listen. If he doesn’t listen then I think we’ll see western alienation raise its ugly head even more.”

Hoback said it would certainly be helpful to have an elected representative from Saskatchewan at the new cabinet table but he argues the prime minister had not been listening to whatever advice Goodale passed on.

“If they’re not listening and following through with actions then they’re just empty words. I’m waiting for the prime minster to show action,” he said, noting the letter sent by Premiers Scott Moe and Jason Kenney after the election. It called for Trudeau to get the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion built and re-work the equalization payment formula. The two provinces also remain opposed to the federal carbon tax.

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Asked what he thought of the possibility of a senator perhaps being picked by Trudeau as a non-partisan representative for this province or the prairies, Hoback figured that would be an ineffective symbolic gesture because they would not have been elected.

“That person would have zero influence and impact on decision-making. It might check a box but Trudeau needs to come back to the House of Commons and work with the MPs who were elected in their ridings and listen to them.”

Hoback added having a “token person” would do more harm than good because they could help make decisions without a mandate from the people of Saskatchewan.

Trudeau has ruled out a formal agreement with any of the opposition parties and plans to govern by getting the support necessary to pass legislation on a case-by-case basis.

With files from The Canadian Press

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow