While his name has become synonymous with the north, he confirmed to CBC on Saturday that he would not be running for the seat again, saying he wants to hone in on his family and his business.
“It’s a position that takes a lot of energy and a lot of time when you want to do a good job,” St. Pierre said, who will now be spending more time concentrating on Dene Driving, a driving school he owns with his wife.
St. Pierre was first elected in 2016 after defeating incumbent Kevin Janvier by 143 votes in a race that saw hundreds of people cast their ballots in hopes of shaping the future of the northern village.
St. Pierre ready for a rest
This summer St. Pierre was one of the key leaders in combating an outbreak of COVID-19 — the most serious of any Indigenous community in Canada — in the Northern Village of La Loche and the nearby Clearwater River Dene Nation.
Over three months, 282 people in the village and First Nation would test positive for the disease, accounting for about seven per cent of the population.
When asked what he plans to do with his time moving forward, his answer was simple.
“I hope to get some rest and enjoy family,” said St. Pierre. “Because at the end of the day, we want to take care of our loved ones.”
Robert St. Pierre has been mayor of the northern village of La Loche since 2016. Looking back, he said he’s pleased with the work he’s done as mayor, saying he hopes he was able to showcase the community in a positive light. (Submitted by Kalvin Jones)
A life-long resident of La Loche, St. Pierre’s successful bid for mayor four years ago focused on community involvement and a more open and transparent approach to government.
St. Pierre says the decision involved a lot of “pros and cons” but said at the end of the day, he feels he’s made the right decision and his family supports it as well. However, he says some in the community have expressed sadness about the fact he’s not running.
“Some people are disappointed. Some are OK and some just understand what it entails, and understand why I’m doing what I’m doing,” he said. “When you provide that context, people understand a little better.”
St. Pierre said when the decision was finalized, it brought with it some relief.
“It is a very demanding and high-profile position being the mayor of a community such as La Loche and it weighs a lot on you,” he said. “And as soon as I made that decision, it was like a weight lifted.”
St. Pierre respected on both sides of Legislature
St. Pierre is recognized by both the Saskatchewan Party and the Saskatchewan NDP as a strong voice for those in Northern Saskatchewan.
In a statement, Sask. Party leader Scott Moe wished St. Pierre the best in his future endeavours.
“Mayor Robert St. Pierre has been a tireless representative for the people of La Loche,” said Moe. “His leadership in the aftermath of the La Loche tragedy and in working with his community and the provincial government when La Loche was faced with high rates of COVID-19 transmission is a true testament to his character.”
Ryan Meili, leader of the NDP opposition, spoke with St. Pierre about his decision to leave politics on Saturday.
He said while he understands its the right choice for St. Pierre and his family, he noted there’s always some disappointment when a person who’s been doing great work as an elected official returns to private life, especially considering how instrumental St. Pierre was in supporting La Loche in the years after the school shooting and this summer’s COVID-19 outbreak.
La Loche Mayor Robert St. Pierre speaking to reporters in 2018. St. Pierre said he appreciated that a sentencing decision for the La Loche school shooter took place in La Loche itself, giving community members a chance to attend. (CBC News)
“He’s really been put to the test as the mayor of a small community and I think he rose to the occasion in a remarkable way,” said Meili, noting not only was St. Pierre a politician, but a champion for his community.
“It’s really important to have someone who is that booster of their community, as well as someone who fights to address the challenges.”
St. Pierre, while not running, says he’ll be watching the mayoral race closely, offering some advice for those seeking out the position in the future.
“You’re pursuing a position that is kind of thankless to a lot of individuals, and there will be a lot of critics,” he said. “But hold your head high and do the best that you can with the information you’re provided, and you will have support along the way if you’re doing the right thing for the people.”
Residents in La Loche — and across Saskatchewan — are set to go to the polls on Nov. 9 to decide the future of their municipal leadership.
HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia legislature is set to open today for its fall sitting.
The early September return has added to speculation of a possible election call later this fall, but Premier Tim Houston will only say that he’s excited about his government’s legislative agenda.
Houston says the Progressive Conservatives still have “lots to do” on behalf of Nova Scotians, but he wasn’t specific about pending legislation when asked about his priorities on Wednesday.
In June, he cast doubt on whether he will adhere to the fixed provincial election date his party passed into law soon after coming to power, which set the date for July 15, 2025.
The Opposition Liberals and the NDP say they are ready for any scenario and remain focused on their own priorities for the sitting.
Both parties say they will highlight the need to deal with cost of living issues, including the shortage of affordable housing and the lack of access to primary health care.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 5, 2024.
In a move that sent shockwaves through British Columbia’s political landscape, B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon announced on Wednesday that his party would suspend its campaign for the upcoming provincial election and throw its support behind John Rustad’s resurgent B.C. Conservatives. This unprecedented decision has left political watchers and analysts scrambling to make sense of the ramifications for the province’s political future.
Kevin Falcon, who took the reins of the B.C. Liberals—now rebranded as B.C. United—in February 2022, delivered the stunning news at a press conference that left many in disbelief. The former cabinet minister, known for his confidence and assertiveness, appeared uncharacteristically somber and introspective as he explained the rationale behind his decision.
Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, observed the stark contrast in Falcon’s demeanor. “This is a man who has always exuded confidence, even cockiness, throughout his political career. But today, he seemed on the brink of tears, visibly struggling with the weight of this decision,” Kurl noted. The emotional toll of Falcon’s announcement was evident, underscoring the gravity of the situation both personally and professionally for the B.C. United leader.
The roots of B.C. United’s collapse can be traced back to two key decisions made by Falcon: the expulsion of John Rustad from the party and the controversial rebranding from the B.C. Liberals to B.C. United. Rustad, who was removed from the party in February 2023 for questioning climate change science, quickly capitalized on his dismissal by revitalizing the dormant B.C. Conservative Party. Since then, Rustad has attracted a growing number of former B.C. United MLAs and candidates to his cause, turning the B.C. Conservatives into a formidable political force.
The decision to rebrand the B.C. Liberals as B.C. United, which was meant to signal a fresh start for the party, has been widely criticized as poorly timed and poorly executed. Bill Bennett, a former Liberal cabinet minister, lamented the lack of public understanding of the new brand. “There was no real effort to rebrand and help the public grasp who B.C. United was. The entire process lacked sufficient resources, which ultimately led to its failure,” Bennett said.
Political scientists have been quick to analyze the implications of Falcon’s decision to suspend B.C. United’s campaign. Stewart Prest, a political science lecturer at the University of British Columbia (UBC), expressed shock at the sudden turn of events. “This was a party that, just moments ago, was preparing to compete in this election. To suddenly wave the white flag and step aside in favor of another party is unprecedented. We haven’t seen anything quite like this before,” Prest remarked.
The move has also raised questions about Falcon’s leadership and the future of B.C. United. Gerald Baier, an associate professor of political science at UBC, suggested that Falcon’s decision to expel Rustad may be viewed as the pivotal moment in his leadership. “If Falcon could go back and change one decision, it would likely be the expulsion of Rustad. That move set off a chain reaction that ultimately led to the party’s collapse,” Baier explained.
With B.C. United stepping aside, the B.C. Conservatives are now positioned to become the main opposition to the ruling B.C. NDP in the upcoming election, scheduled for October 19. However, the transition will not be without its challenges. The Conservatives will need to decide which B.C. United candidates to include on their slate, a process that could leave some candidates and voters in a state of uncertainty.
As the political landscape in British Columbia shifts dramatically, the upcoming election promises to be one of the most closely watched and hotly contested in recent memory. The decision by Falcon to back the B.C. Conservatives has not only upended the election but has also reshaped the future of politics in the province. As the dust settles, all eyes will be on John Rustad and his ability to capitalize on this newfound momentum.
In conclusion, Kevin Falcon’s decision to suspend B.C. United’s campaign and endorse the B.C. Conservatives marks a pivotal moment in British Columbia’s political history. The move has raised numerous questions about the future of B.C. United, the leadership of the B.C. Conservatives, and the upcoming election itself. As the province braces for what promises to be a highly volatile election season, one thing is clear: British Columbia’s political landscape will never be the same.
VICTORIA – British Columbia’s auditor general says his office has found no evidence of a conflict of interest in the handling of provincial grants for the zero-emission vehicle sector, after an accusation by a truck maker earlier this year.
Michael Pickup says in a statement the investigation looked into accounting firm MNP’s handling of Advanced Research and Commercialization grant applications, reviewing “a significant amount of information” from the company, the government and all applicants.
Pickup says the results show no evidence MNP wrote grant applications for clients, influenced the evaluation process to benefit clients or used its administering of the program to “recruit” clients for the company’s other services.
In April, the provincial legislature unanimously directed Pickup’s office to examine allegations by electric-hybrid truck maker Edison Motors that MNP was both administering the grants and offering services to help businesses with applications.
The Office of the Auditor General says the allegations from Edison, which is based in Merritt, B.C., suggested MNP “was offering to write grant applications in exchange for a success fee while also deciding who received grant funding.”
MNP said at the time that the allegations were “false and misleading.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2024.
