MLA Nadine Wilson is one of three politicians involved in a new party. (Screen shot/Youtube)

By Susan McNeil

Politics

Nadine Wilson involved in new provincial political party

May 24, 2022 | 2:00 PM

Sask Rivers MLA Nadine Wilson is promoting a new political party along with Ken Rutherford, former candidate for the Maverick Party and Gerry Ritz who was Agriculture Minister under Stephen Harper’s government.

Wilson told paNOW that voters are looking for different representation provincially.

“People have been looking for a new political home because they feel alienated or they call their MLAs and they’re ridiculed or laughed at,” said Wilson.

Called the Saskatchewan United Party, the group is still in the process of gathering the 2,500 signatures needed to be registered.

Wilson was a member of the Saskatchewan Party until stepping away from the party – but not her seat – last year after claiming to be vaccinated when she was not.

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She said that many people who think as she does have been talking to her about the new party.

“We have been moving around the province, those of us who are like-minded and have found each other. We have formed a new movement called Saskatchewan United,” Wilson said.

“This seems to be bringing people hope and unity that they are very valuable citizens in Saskatchewan and that they have a place in Saskatchewan. That we’re a diverse society and no one group should be ridiculed or given favouritism.”

According to a YouTube video with short statements by Wilson, Rutherford and Ritz, Wilson got the idea to form a new political party after Premier Scott Moe commented during the COVID-19 restrictions that people who refused to vaccinate were going to have their lives made uncomfortable.

Moe was referring to Public Health measures that attempt to control the spread of COVID by having the public wear masks, limit exposure to others and be vaccinated to ease the overloaded hospital and ICU beds.

At its peak, the COVID pandemic in Saskatchewan saw the number of ICU beds expanded to accommodate patients and 27 people still needing to be flown to Ontario for care. Almost all of the patients were unvaccinated.

Former Member of Parliament for Battlefords – Lloydminster Gerry Ritz said in the video that he also found himself politically homeless after listening to Moe.

“To say that I’m frustrated at this time would be an understatement. Like many of you, that frustration has turned to anger,” he said.

He said the provinces promised no mandates and no passports and then two weeks later they were in place. Ritz also referred to Moe’s comment about being made uncomfortable.

He also said that agriculture is a shared jurisdiction between the federal and provincial governments but that has seemed to change.

“I see that changing in the last little while. I see the provinces acquiesce to the federal government that have led us down blind alley after blind alley, all while spending huge amounts of money,” Ritz said.

Rutherford is also a resident of the Battlefords-Lloydminster riding and ran under the Maverick Party banner in the last election.

He limits his political commentary in the video but asks people to support the party by adding their names to the signatures needed in order to register with Elections Saskatchewan.

According to the Elections SK website, a prospective party must have 2,500 signatures with 1,000 of them living in at least 10 different constituencies which need at least 100 electors.

Once registered, a party can incur expenses, solicit and receive donations, be part of the political contributions tax regime and field candidates for election.

Six parties are already registered including the Buffalo Party, NDP, PC Party, Sask. Green Party, Sask. Liberal Party and the Saskatchewan Party.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com