By Joel van der Veen

MOOSE JAW — Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski is denying reports that he used a slur to describe a local NDP candidate during his victory speech following the federal election a month ago.

Lukiwski issued the denial on Thursday afternoon, following the release of a video clip that showed him speaking to supporters at the Eagles Club hall in Moose Jaw on the night of Oct. 19.

In the clip, after giving his assessment of the election results — in which the Conservatives were reduced to 99 seats and the Liberals received a majority of 184 seats — Lukiwski turned his focus to Greg Lawrence, the Saskatchewan Party MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow.

He said Lawrence would have a tough battle ahead of him in the provincial election, owing to changes to the riding boundaries, and pledged his support to the campaign.

“He’s too important of an MLA to let go down to an NDP (horde or whore) just because of a bad boundary,” Lukiwski is heard saying in the clip.

Lawrence, the incumbent, is being challenged by New Democratic Party candidate Karen Purdy in the spring provincial election, scheduled for April 4, 2016.

The clip was recorded by Mickey Djuric, a former reporter for the Moose Jaw Times-Herald, who resigned from the daily newspaper last week.

Djuric posted the video online on Thursday, accompanied by a blog entry in which she said she had quit on principle after Times-Herald management decided not to publish a story she had written about the speech.

She alleged that managers blocked the story, saying it was not in the Times-Herald’s best interests to publish it and that they did not want to draw negative attention towards the paper.

“Following their mandate would lead to me compromising my values, ethics and morals as a journalist,” she wrote.

“I humbly and respectfully maintain that the wonderful citizens of Moose Jaw and this riding deserve better — no censorship, no deceit.”

Lukiwski told CBC on Thursday that he had referred to a “horde,” not a “whore,” in his speech, and insinuated that those who believed otherwise were hearing what they wanted to hear.

“If you want to hear ‘whore’ you can hear it,” he said. “If you want to hear ‘horde,’ you’ll hear that.”

He later issued a simple statement on Thursday afternoon, saying he wished to provide clarity on the matter of the video.

“At no point did I use any sort of profanity to describe the NDP,” he was quoted. “I have reached out to the NDP candidate, Ms. Purdy, to assure her that no such insult was ever used nor intended.”

For the full story — along with an editorial statement by the Leader on the incident — please see the Nov. 23 edition of The Davidson Leader.

By Joel van der Veen

REGINA — Davidson’s SLGA liquor store would be among the 40 public outlets converted to private businesses under sweeping reforms to Saskatchewan’s liquor retail system announced by the province last week.

Don McMorris, the cabinet minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Gaming and Liquor Authority, announced what he called a “new direction” for liquor retail in the province at a press conference in Regina on Wednesday.

The changes also include 12 new private liquor stores in what the ministry has deemed “underserved communities,” along with a new retail model that the province said will create an even playing field for retailers.

The current system provides different rules for government liquor stores, full-time private stores, rural franchises and off-sale outlets.

Under the proposed changes, all liquor retailers would be under the same regulations regarding the wholesale price at which alcohol is purchased for resale, hours of operation, product selection and the chilling of beer products, along with other factors.

McMorris said the new direction is based on the results of a three-month consultation process launched in November 2014 and completed in January.

More than 6,600 residents filled out a survey, providing their feedback on five possible options for liquor retail in Saskatchewan, while another 3,300 posted comments online.

McMorris told the Leader on Thursday that the consultation had revealed some key points.

This included a desire among respondents that any changes to the system would maintain the revenue provided to the provincial government through liquor sales, noted by 54.8 per cent of respondents.

He said he also heard residents express a desire for greater selection, improved convenience and more competitive pricing.

Of the respondents, 61.7 per cent supported a greater role for private liquor retail stores, while 58.0 per cent stated the government should focus on investing in other public priorities.

Figures were provided on the 40 stores that would be converted to private outlets, including Davidson’s liquor store on Washington Avenue.

According to the province, between 2013 and 2015 the Davidson store has had average annual sales of $961,000, and operating expenses of $182,000, for an overall operating ratio of 19 per cent.

The building is owned by the province and was constructed in 1960. The store currently employs three people, or the equivalent of 1.6 full-time employees.

Overall, the 40 stores have an average annual sales total of $76.9 million and employ 196 people, with an FTE of 101.8 people.

The announcement prompted a range of responses, both positive and negative.

For the full story, please see the Nov. 23 edition of The Davidson Leader.