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Gordon Barnhart can enjoy the rest of his vacation in Hawaii, free of the burden of leading the organization that represents Saskatchewan’s urban municipalities.
Barnhart soundly lost his attempt for a second term as president of Municipalities of Saskatchewan this week.
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The province’s former lieutenant-governor attended the organization’s annual convention from Hawaii an almost certain guarantee that his holiday during a time of outrage over travel by public officials would ensure defeat.
Editorial Yorkton This Week It was Jan. 7, when Yorkton This Week first reported Saltcoats Mayor, and then president of the Municipalities of Saskatchewan Gordon Barnhart was in Hawaii. That might not sound like such a big deal coming after the holiday season, but of course we are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and international travel is simply frowned upon. article continues below In fact, prior to the discovery of Barnhart s trip, Joe Hargrave, MLA for Prince Albert Carlton, had resigned as Saskatchewan Highways Minister after making a trip to Palm Springs, California in late December landed him in a public storm given the general public has been urged to stay home to control the spread of COVID-19.
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If there were any bears in the pit, they must have been hibernating.
Premier Scott Moe and his cabinet ministers mostly stuck to talking points and offered few surprises during the “bear pit” session at the end of Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s annual convention.
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The 90-minute event, a long-standing tradition, was held virtually this year, leaving little room for some of the tense exchanges with local mayors and councillors that have characterized previous bear pits.
Hayward defeated incumbent Gordon Barnhart, the mayor of Saltcoats and a former lieutenant-governor, 351 to 115. Rennie Harper, Nipawin’s mayor, will serve as the new vice-president of towns. Barnhart, who campaigned from Hawaii, came under fire recently for his comments on amalgamation and for travelling despite the pandemic – which Hayward said partly led him to mount a campaign. Barnhart said he wasn’t surprised at the results on the afternoon of Feb. 8, adding that he felt a bit of relief. He said he plans to focus on his duties as mayor of Saltcoats and still predicts big changes are on the way for municipal governance.