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.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — For the crowd gathered at Davidson Town Hall on Remembrance Day, Alf Stulberg represented a living link with history and Canada’s fight for freedom.

The 94-year-old is one of the area’s last surviving Second World War veterans, and his story struck a chord with many in attendance.

During the ceremony, Bonnie Jean Low read a short summary of Alf’s war experience, detailing how he joined the army in November 1942 and went overseas in June 1944.

Stulberg was captured by the Germans in the Netherlands three months later and spent around seven months as a prisoner of war.

He was released prior to VE Day on May 8, 1945. By that time the long marches and lack of food had taken their toll; at the time of his release, he weighed just 121 pounds.

When Low finished reading, the crowd of more than 200 broke out in a spontaneous standing ovation. Stulberg humbly responded by thanking all for attending and adding, “It is a privilege and an honour to be here.”

It was a brief moment and a highlight of Wednesday’s ceremony, organized by the Davidson Inter-Church Association (DICA) and Branch 51 of the Royal Canadian Legion.

The 90-minute program, led by emcee Mary Jane Morrison, incorporated music, Scripture and history with military tradition.

Legion branch president Gordon McRae, who served as the parade marshall, said he was pleased with the turnout and response.

Pianist Nancy Wilkins led a community choir in singing old standards as the audience members filed in, with the parade of colours beginning around 10:45 a.m.

Members of 553 Sherlock Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets led the parade, followed by the singing of “O Canada” and a prayer by Lana Schmiedge.

The Last Post, two minutes of silence and the Reveille were followed by the Act of Remembrance, after which Comrade Ila May Northrop read the names of fallen comrades from Davidson and district.

A total of 15 wreaths were laid during the ceremony, followed by the hymn “When Quiet Peace is Shattered.” Ila May Northrop read from Ecclesiastes 3, Father Joseph Gyim-Austin read Psalm 47, and Joanne LePoudre offered a prayer.

A slide show, created by last year’s Grade 12 class at Davidson School, was shown, followed by the hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.”

Members of the Legion presented brief historical speeches. Ila May Northrop read a history of the Legion, which celebrates its 90th anniversary nationally this year.

Gladys Junop presented the history of the local branch, which was formed in 1919, originally as part of the Great War Veterans Association, and remains active with a total of 30 members, including three veterans.

Mary Lynne Golphy read a history of the Ladies Auxiliary, which was active for decades and disbanded in 2000.

Low concluded the speeches by reading of Stulberg’s war experience, for which he was honoured in May by the French government and named a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, an order established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.

An offering was collected for DICA’s Christmas Gift Card project. Rev. Mathias Ross gave the prayer of dedication, followed by the hymn “Faith of Our Fathers.”

Pastor Lucas Branstetter gave the benediction, after which “God Save the Queen” was sung and the retiring of the colours commenced.

Following the service, a 90th anniversary cake was served, along with coffee and doughnuts provided by Riverbend Co-op.

For the full story, along with coverage of Remembrance Day events at Hanley, Craik and Davidson School, please see the Nov. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader.