When the green shift was first announced this summer. I know at least two people in the local media, John Gormley of Newstalk 980 and Murray Mandryk of the Leader Post declared that if a Federal Election was contested on this issue then Ralph was done or at least in a lot of trouble. Gormley and Mandryk don’t agree on much politically, but they seem to be in agreement on the Green Shift.

I realize that the links provided are articles from June, but the optics of the Green Shift are still the same. Saskatchewan and Alberta being major producers of natural resources and using coal as their primary source of electricity are going to be impacted by the carbon tax more then the rest of Canada.

The Conservative Party believes they can win this seat. Why do you think the Prime Minister was in Regina the second day of the campaign?

I believe three factors could turn this seat Conservative:

1. The Green Shift. Explained above

2. Solid Competition. The Conservative candidate, Michelle Hunter, may get women voters who normally wouldn’t consider voting Conservative. I didn’t think this was a factor until I went to a fundraising lunch for Michelle. I saw someone who I knew outside of political circles who I was sure was a Liberal party supporter.

I went up to her and said “I didn’t know you were a Conservative party supporter”.

She said “I support women who go for political office. No matter what the party.”

Granted that is only one person, but usually if one person feels a certain way there are others that feel the same way. Michelle is strong candidate and has experience in politics in Saskatchewan, she won’t have trouble finding volunteers for her campaign.

3. No longer in government. Every time Ralph has defended this seat his party has been in government and usually Ralph is in cabinet. This time is different. He was sitting in opposition and the prospect of the Liberals forming government is looking pretty slim. A vote for Goodale is not a vote for a Saskatchewan voice in cabinet.

From my perspective Regina Wascana is looking like a close race.