By Glenn Hicks

SaskParty leadership hopeful aims to separate from the pack

Sep 28, 2017 | 5:00 PM

Saskatchewan Party leadership hopeful Alanna Koch has been doing the rounds in Prince Albert drumming up support for her candidacy.

As an insider with the SaskParty since its inception, but never an MLA, the former Deputy Minister to the Premier and Deputy Minister of Agriculture is balancing a fine line. She wants to show she’s a credible contender for the office of Premier, but at the same time distance herself from the other four candidates who were all previous government ministers.

Speaking to paNOW Thursday, Koch called herself “an insider-outsider.” She said she’s coming from a different place compared to the other contenders in the quest to win over party members and ultimately the wider public in the 2020 election.

“I’m not a member of caucus so it’s only automatic that those caucus members are friends with their colleagues and view themselves as part of that group,”  Koch said. “I’m on the outside of that.”

Koch said her background is different to her fellow challengers.

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“I have been on both sides of government on the political and public service side. I also have extensive experience in business and the non-profit sector, as well as international experience… and I don’t think the others have that same breadth and depth,” she said.

Koch has travelled extensively overseas on various trade missions. Before joining government she was President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, a Director with Agricore United and Executive Director with the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association.

As far as her leadership style, Koch said she’s different to her fellow contenders as well as the man she aims to succeed.

“Every organization I’ve been involved in I’ve been very open, accessible and transparent,” she said. “I’ve really tried to engage my teams and all the people I’ve served no matter what business they are in.”

Koch said her campaign platform is based on some key issues. Those include free market solutions, free trade, a competitive business climate and science-based decision-making.

Meanwhile, she’s making no specific leadership campaign promises to the people of Prince Albert.

“The only promise that I have is that I’m here to listen and to hear from people and would expect that’s exactly how I’d govern. You know the province is a big place and different areas have different needs.”

Glenn.Hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow