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Gordon Wyant

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Gordon Wyant
KC
Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly
for Saskatoon Northwest
In office
October 18, 2010 – June 10, 2024
Preceded bySerge LeClerc
Succeeded byDon McBean (Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis)
Deputy Premier of Saskatchewan
In office
February 2, 2018 – November 9, 2020
PremierScott Moe
Preceded byDon Morgan
Succeeded byDonna Harpauer
Saskatoon City Councillor
In office
October 22, 2003 – October 18, 2010
Preceded byPeter McCann
Succeeded byRandy Donauer
ConstituencyWard 5
Personal details
Born1957 (age 66–67)[1]
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Political partySaskatchewan Party
Other political
affiliations		Liberal Party of Canada
Residence(s)Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
OccupationLawyer

Gordon S. Wyant, KC (born 1957) is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan with the Saskatchewan Party for the constituency of Saskatoon Northwest from 2010 to 2024. Wyant served in the cabinets of both Brad Wall and Scott Moe, including two stints as Attorney General. Prior to entering provincial politics, Wyant served on Saskatoon City Council from 2003 to 2010.

Early life and career

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Wyant was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He earned both bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Saskatchewan.[2][3] After receiving his law degree in 1986, Wyant was admitted to the bar in 1987 and practiced corporate law in Saskatoon.[2][4] In 2008, he was appointed Queen's Counsel.[4][5] Wyant served as a member of the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners and on the Board of Directors of Saskatoon's Credit Union Centre.[6][7] He was also a public school board trustee from 2000 to 2002.[8] Wyant worked as the business manager for Serge LeClerc before LeClerc was elected as MLA for Saskatoon Northwest as a member of the Saskatchewan Party in 2007.[9]

Political career

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Saskatoon Public School Board

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Wyant was a Public School Board Trustee from 2000 until 2003. He served two years as Board Chair.[8]

Saskatoon City Council

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Wyant was first elected to Saskatoon's City Council in 2003, representing Ward 5, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2009. During his time on council, Wyant was considered to be part of a conservative bloc of councillors who tended to align their votes.[9] He was a supporter of curbside recycling and a critic of the rapid development of "big box" shopping centres.[9][10]

Saskatchewan Party MLA

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Serge LeClerc resigned as Saskatoon Northwest MLA in 2010, triggering a by-election for the seat. Wyant ran to succeed LeClerc under the Saskatchewan Party banner. He was elected MLA for Saskatoon Northwest on October 18, 2010, and consequently resigned from City Council.[11] Wyant went on to be re-elected in the 2011 provincial election; he was then named Deputy House Leader and in 2012 was named to Premier Brad Wall's cabinet as Minister of Justice and Attorney General.[8]

After Wall announced in August 2017 that he would be retiring, Wyant resigned from cabinet and entered the race to succeed Wall as Saskatchewan Party leader and Saskatchewan Premier.[12] During his leadership campaign, Wyant promised a public inquiry into the Global Transportation Hub land scandal—an issue he first identified and flagged to the party in 2012 when serving as Attorney General[13]—and pledged a $30 million increase in funding for education.[14][15] Wyant criticized the emergence of abortion as a campaign issue, stating that the Supreme Court had offered "finality" on the issue.[16] While he was criticized for his membership with the federal Liberal Party—which he cancelled in September 2017—Wyant promised to continue the party's combative approach to federal relations.[12][17] Wyant ultimately finished fourth in the 2018 leadership election after being eliminated on the third ballot; the election was won by Scott Moe.[18]

After Moe was sworn in as Premier, Wyant was appointed Deputy Premier and Minister of Education.[15] He ended his advocacy for an inquiry into the GTH scandal, stating that it was the government's position to "move on" from it.[19] Wyant was in charge of the education portfolio during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and guided the implementation of the province's plans for reopening schools in the fall of 2020.[20] In a late 2020 cabinet shuffle, Wyant took over the justice portfolio, beginning a second stint as Attorney General; he stayed in that role until May 2022, when he was named the advanced education minister.[21][22] On October 12, 2023, Wyant voted with the government to introduce the controversial Bill 137—the Education Parents' Bill of Rights Amendment Act.[23] Wyant was absent for subsequent votes, including the vote that enshrined the Parents' Bill of Rights into law. Despite the absences, Premier Moe stated that he was "100 per cent" confident that Wyant supported the legislation.[24]

On February 6, 2024, despite having already been acclaimed the Saskatchewan Party candidate for the renamed riding of Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis, Wyant announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2024 provincial election.[25] The same week, Wyant suggested that he was contemplating running to become mayor of Saskatoon in the fall 2024 municipal election.[26] He was shuffled out of cabinet on May 17, and on June 10 he resigned as MLA for Saskatoon Northwest.[27][28]

Saskatoon Mayoral campaign

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On June 10, 2024, Wyant officially announced his run for mayor of Saskatoon in the 2024 municipal election; Wyant boasted about his connection with the Saskatchewan Party and stated that his campaign would focus on the planks of public safety, affordability, and transparency.[28] Wyant ultimately finished as runner-up to two-term councillor Cynthia Block.[29]

Personal life

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Wyant has four children with his wife, Christine Hrudka.[30]

Electoral history

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2024 Saskatoon mayoral election[31]
Candidate Votes %
Cynthia Block 30,412 44.7
Gordon Wyant 20,259 29.7
Don Atchison 10,460 15.4
Cary Tarasoff 6,386 9.4
Mike Harder 568 0.8
Total 68,085 100.00
2020 Saskatchewan general election: Saskatoon Northwest
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Gordon Wyant 4,390 62.17
New Democratic Gillian Strange 2,519 35.68
Green Maria Krznar 152 2.15
Total 7,061 98.96
Source: Elections Saskatchewan[32]
2016 Saskatchewan general election: Saskatoon Northwest
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Gordon Wyant 4,514 65.48
New Democratic Dennel Pickering 2,004 29.07
Liberal Eric Steiner 254 3.68
Green Nylissa Valentine 121 1.75
Total valid votes 6,893 100.0  
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division; Elections Saskatchewan[33]
2011 Saskatchewan general election: Saskatoon Northwest
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Gordon Wyant 4,761 70.35
New Democratic Nicole White 1,718 25.39
Green Luke Bonson 153 2.26
Liberal Eric Steiner 135 2.00
Total number of valid votes 6,767 100.00
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division
2010 by election: Saskatoon Northwest
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Gordon Wyant 3,051 58.95
New Democratic Jan Dyky 1,711 33.06
Liberal Eric Steiner 157 3.03
Progressive Conservative Manny Sonnenschein 133 2.57
Green Larissa Shasko 122 2.35
Total number of valid votes 5,175 100.00
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division

Provincial cabinet positions

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Saskatchewan provincial government of Scott Moe
Cabinet posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
Gene Makowsky Minister of Advanced Education
May 31, 2022 – May 17, 2024 		Colleen Young
Don Morgan Minister of Justice and Attorney General
November 9, 2020 – May 31, 2022 		Bronwyn Eyre
Bronwyn Eyre Minister of Education
February 2, 2018 – November 9, 2020 		Dustin Duncan
Saskatchewan provincial government of Brad Wall
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Rob Norris Minister of Corrections and Policing
August 23, 2016 – August 30, 2017 		Don Morgan
Don Morgan Minister of Justice and Attorney General
May 25, 2012 – August 30, 2017 		Don Morgan

References

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  1. ^ Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory. Martindale-Hubbell. 1994. ISBN 9781561602230.
  2. ^ a b "Gordon S. Wyant". McKercher LLP. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Gordon Wyant – Saskatoon Northwest – Saskatchewan Party". Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b "2008 Queen's Counsel Appointments". Government of Saskatchewan. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  5. ^ "Benchers' Digest – Queen's Counsel Ceremony" (PDF). Law Society of Saskatchewan. April 2009. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Board of Police Commissioners". Saskatoon Police Service. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  7. ^ "Board of Directors". Credit Union Centre. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  8. ^ a b c Knox, Shawn (22 January 2018). "Meet the candidates; Gord Wyant". Global News. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Hamilton, Charles (4 November 2010). "Will By-Election Bring Change to Council Cliques?". Planet S Magazine. Vol. 9, no. 22. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  10. ^ MacLean, Rory (8 February 2024). "Gord Wyant not ruling out Saskatoon mayoral run". CTV News. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Wyant wins Saskatoon Northwest byelection". CBC News. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  12. ^ a b MacPherson, Alex (25 August 2017). "Gord Wyant officially enters race to become Saskatchewan Party leader and new premier". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  13. ^ Leo, Geoff (2 November 2016). "Minister of justice red-flagged potential conflict of interest in 1st GTH land deal". CBC News. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  14. ^ Giles, David; MacVicar, Adam (5 September 2017). "Gord Wyant to call GTH inquiry if elected leader of the Saskatchewan Party". Global News. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Gord Wyant welcomed as new education minister, promises 'new relationship' with Sask. teachers". CBC News. 3 February 2018. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  16. ^ White-Crummey, Arthur (23 November 2017). "Abortion becomes a divisive issue in Sask. Party leadership campaign". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  17. ^ Cairns, John (21 September 2017). "Leadership race update: Wyant quits fed Liberals, Beaudry-Mellor says remove PST on insurance". Sask Today. Harvard Media. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  18. ^ MacPherson, Alex (29 January 2018). "How the voting broke down in Scott Moe's Saskatchewan Party leadership race victory". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  19. ^ Leo, Geoff (26 July 2018). "Deputy Premier backs away from campaign call for GTH inquiry following RCMP probe". CBC News. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  20. ^ Quenneville, Guy (27 August 2020). "Wyant says he regrets nothing about Saskatchewan school reopening plan". CBC News. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  21. ^ Sciarpelletti, Laura; Hunter, Adam (9 November 2020). "Sask. Premier Scott Moe announces significant cabinet shuffle". CBC News. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Moe shuffles cabinet; Eyre first woman to hold Justice portfolio in Sask". CBC News. 31 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Votes and Proceedings" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. 12 October 2023.
  24. ^ Salloum, Alec (20 October 2023). "Saskatchewan passes school pronoun bill using notwithstanding clause". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  25. ^ Quon, Alexander (6 February 2024). "4 high-profile Saskatchewan cabinet ministers won't seek re-election: Sask. Party". CBC News. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Gord Wyant says he has what it takes to lead Saskatoon as mayor". CKOM News. CJME. 8 February 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  27. ^ Benson, Andrew (17 May 2024). "Premier Scott Moe appoints new advanced education minister". Global News. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  28. ^ a b Quon, Alexander (10 June 2024). "Gordon Wyant, Cynthia Block announce Saskatoon mayoral campaigns". CBC News. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  29. ^ Warren, Jeremy (13 November 2024). "Cynthia Block elected as Saskatoon's next mayor". CBC News. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  30. ^ "Honourable Gordon Wyant, K. C." Government of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024.
  31. ^ "Saskatoon Civic Election Results 2024". City of Saskatoon. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  32. ^ "A Report on the Twenty-Ninth General Election, Volume I: Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  33. ^ "2016 General Election Results". Elections Saskatchewan. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
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