What do you get the party that seems to have everything?
Or, equally puzzling, where do you begin with the party that seems to have next to nothing in Saskatchewan right now?
These are the puzzlers for my annual Christmas gift giving to provincial politicians - the one time of the year when I come bearing nothing put goodwill. So without further ado, here are gifts to the deserving politicians of 2011.
Finding anything that Premier Brad Wall actually needs is a problem. After all, he couldn't physically fit another seat on the government side of the legislature without spilling over to the opposition benches. And with 64 per cent of the popular vote in the November election, he certainly doesn't need any more adulation from the Saskatchewan electorate.
So about the best we can offer Wall is our congratulation for presiding over a growing and prosperous province and our thanks for not over-promising at a time when Saskatchewan is still running a summary financial deficit.
Across the way, let's hope that interim NDP and Opposition leader John Nilson receives the gift of wisdom in keeping the government in check. He deserves something for taking on what may be the toughest job in Saskatchewan politics as Opposition leader. In fact, let's wish a Merry Christmas to all nine surviving NDP caucus members who will have a much tougher task holding the government to account.
And while a lot of you may not feel terribly giving to former leader Dwain Lingenfelter, he likely deserves something for fighting a tough campaign that inspired a lot of debate.
Finance Minister Ken Krawetz should find something under his tree for insuring that the books are pretty close to being on target - notwithstanding a lot of extra expenditures for flooding. In that vein, let's hear it for Wood River MLA and Corrections and Public Safety Minister Yogi Huyghebaert for the steady hand he showed during the spring flooding.
Some credit should go to Energy and Mines Minister Bill Boyd for sticking to policies that have now produced a bit of extra revenue in potash that's made up for the loss in oil.
Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud may not have pleased everyone with his hard-nosed stance on ending the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly. But a lot will agree he deserves something for his convictions and also for fighting hard for Crop Insurance improvements and special payments. The same goes for Highways Minister Jim Reiter for the extra money for our roads.
Social Services Minister June Draude came through with help for the disabled - a good cause if there ever was one. And while education funding formulas remain somewhat unresolved, let's hear it for Education Minister Donna Harpauer for seeing the province through tough teachers' negotiations and a short-lived strike this spring that was resolved without affecting the school year.
Let's not forget about Health Minister Don McMorris, who has overseen a decrease in the surgical wait list times and a health budget that seems to be on track for the first time in recent memory. With tough negotiations with the health unions ahead, he may need some Christmas cheer.
Problems at the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations kept First Nations and Metis Relations Minister Ken Cheveldayoff busy in 2011. Here's hoping he receives something for a tough job.
And let's hope that new Speaker Dan D'Autremont gets something that will help him get through what may be a tough year in the assembly. Also, all the best to out-going Speaker Don Toth - a gentlemen in politics if there ever was one.
Merry Christmas to all.
Murray Mandryk has been covering provincial politics for over 15 years.
