If you’ve learned one thing over the past few years, it’s that Saskatchewan’s economy needs the rest of Canada on its side for it to not only survive but thrive. We’ve had that message beaten into our heads for the last half a decade, after Justin Trudeau was elected prime minister in 2015 and, by last name alone, was instantly viewed as an existential threat to Saskatchewan.

After much of the rest of Canada opted to put Justin Trudeau back into the prime minister’s office, the premier of Saskatchewan took that idea to a new low. After watching the country reject Andrew Scheer and his policies, Scott Moe sent a list of Saskatchewan’s demands to Trudeau that mirrored Scheer’s policies. Then he topped off that crap-sandwich with a pickle of a shouty, half-hysterical news conference that may have played well at home (though even his supporters tell me it didn’t), but embarrassed us on the national stage. And one of those demands? A new equalization deal for Saskatchewan.

The request for Ottawa to provide unique supports for Saskatchewan’s unique economic and geographic needs is not new. In 2006, a motion in the Saskatchewan legislature to “urge Prime Minister Harper to honour his commitment to remove non-renewable resource revenues from the equalization formula” received bipartisan support from both the then-governing NDP and Official Opposition Saskatchewan Party. “The Saskatchewan Party believes that an issue as important as equalization transcends partisan politics, Mr. Speaker,” said Ken Cheveldayoff at the time. “That is why I am reiterating again today our offer on behalf of the official opposition to join with the government in a trip to Ottawa or whatever it takes for a new equalization deal for Saskatchewan.” An issue that “transcends partisan politics” — imagine that.

Even then-Opposition leader Brad Wall was onside with taking Harper to task. “We would like to see, Mr. Speaker, inequity addressed, this unfairness addressed,” he told the legislative assembly. “We will stand with this motion. We will continue to reach out to the federal members of the parliament as we have. Every time we get a chance to meet with a cabinet minister or an MP or chat with the prime minister, we raise the issue of equalization.”

Of course, we know now that promises of bipartisan co-operation went out the window after Wall was elected premier, as did the promise of a new deal on equalization. Harper broke his promise to negotiate it with Saskatchewan and Wall broke his promise to hold Harper to account and get that deal done. “Unlike the previous NDP government who believed a negative, destructive, and pessimistic approach was the only way to deal with the federal government, it is the position of this government that we believe in rolling up our sleeves and want to work with the federal government to help build our province,” explained newly-minted Justice Minister Don Morgan in 2008.

“We are once again a have province and we are working very hard, Mr. Speaker, to lay the groundwork, particularly in terms of infrastructure, to ensure that we maintain Saskatchewan’s rightful place as a have province in Confederation for the future.” It bears repeating: “It is the position of this government that we believe in rolling up our sleeves and want to work with the federal government to help build our province.” The only thing that has changed since Morgan made that statement is the federal government.

Coincidentally, I guess, the Saskatchewan government has done an about-face on equalization once again, and decided that we do need a deal after all. This might lead some to believe that the Sask. Party government was happy to roll up its sleeves for Harper to build a prosperous Saskatchewan, but not for Trudeau. If that’s the case, this is all about what’s best for Sask. Party politics, not what’s best for our province.

Regardless, in case you didn’t hear it enough during the federal election campaign, Saskatchewan needs the federal government and other provinces to get on board with what we need to thrive, because they hold the keys to some of the doors standing in the way. Imagine for a moment that you need something from your neighbour or a community leader. Do you write up an insolent demand letter and throw it in your neighbour’s face, shouting about how it had better get done, or else? Or do you bake a banana loaf and walk it over with a smile on your face to ask for a favour?

Exactly. The only thing I know for sure right now is that this wildly undulating equalization debate is a non-starter solely brought out for political purposes. It was a convenient fight for the Saskatchewan NDP to pick with the feds in the early 2000s. Dropping it was a convenient political favour from Saskatchewan to Harper and now it’s a convenient battle for the Sask. Party to pick with the feds. There is no meaningful deal coming any time soon and all parties know it.

I don’t care how you vote or what party you support — demand better than this from all levels of government, because in the meantime the only losers are you and I, our families and our futures.

– Tammy Robert