Brad Wall became Premier of Saskatchewan in November of 2007, after leading the then ten-year old Saskatchewan Party to its first ever victory at the polls. The decisive victory put an end to a 16-year NDP government in Saskatchewan, with the Saskatchewan Party capturing 51 per cent of the popular vote, translating into 38 of the legislature’s 58 seats.
Brad was born and raised in southwest Saskatchewan in the city of Swift Current. He still lives there with his wife Tami who is the assistant city assessor for the City of Swift Current and formerly the owner/operator of her own small business. They have three children: Megan, Colter and Faith and because of his family, Brad tries to get home most nights, even though it's a two-hour drive from the provincial capital of Regina. He is also a minor football coach.
Brad’s interest in politics was sparked in grade school by a great teacher and the example of involvement he saw from his mom and dad. From Poleconomy to youth politics, he had a keen interest in politics from an early age.
While studying for his honours degree in Political Administration at the University of Saskatchewan, Brad became a member of a political youth executive, a move that ultimately kick-started his career in politics.
It was also at the U of S that Brad met his wife, Tami, who was an engineering student.
One of his earliest forays into public affairs was in the late 1980's as a founding member and western co-chair of the Alliance for the Future of Young Canadians.
This was an organization dedicated to promoting free trade, something Brad says “has provided a significant boost to both the Canadian and Saskatchewan economies.”
Prior to his career in politics, Brad worked in government and created small businesses. He was involved in service work spanning local events, economic development, supporting entrepreneurship and health care recruitment.
“I was the Director of Business Development for the City of Swift Current and was operating a seasonal tourism business,” he says. “I also worked in provincial and federal elections, and at both levels of government in economic development” In 1999, the Saskatchewan Economic Developers Association (SEDA) presented him with the 1998 Economic Developer of the Year Award.
Brad was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1999.
“I ran for the Saskatchewan Party because of the party’s Guiding Principles, where economic growth and job creation through the private sector, not government, are the engine of the economy and because the party represented a united, enterprise-friendly alternative to the NDP,” he says of his initial decision to run for public office.
Brad was re-elected in 2003 and was then chosen Leader of the Saskatchewan Party on March 15, 2004. In September of 2004, Brad released an economic vision paper, “The Promise of Saskatchewan: A New Vision for Saskatchewan’s Economy.” The paper was described by the Saskatoon Star Phoenix as a plan that “presents an optimistic alternative that bears close scrutiny and sets the stage for a debate long overdue for this province to outgrow its poor cousin role in Confederation.” (Sept. 24/04)
Brad served as Leader of Saskatchewan’s Official Opposition until he was elected Premier in November 2007.
Brad says his proudest moments since he was elected are those where he has been able to help someone with a government, health care, social services or some other issue.
“I am honoured at the chance to truly make a difference in large sweeping issues and in smaller, sometimes more important ways, of helping constituents with their concerns in government,” Brad said.
“In my constituency, I am proud of the support our government has provided to people with intellectual disabilities. Through investments such as new group homes and community-based day programs, we have been able to virtually eliminate the waitlist of people in the Swift Current area needing access to these types of services.”
Under Brad’s leadership, the Saskatchewan Party government has so far kept more than 100 of its 2007 election promises including:
- The largest tax cuts in the history of Saskatchewan;
- Cutting the province's debt by nearly 40 per cent;
- Record infrastructure spending-- $2.5 billion in just two years--to improve roads, schools and senior's facilities all across Saskatchewan and providing more affordable housing for those with lower incomes;
- 1,000 new childcare spaces for the children of parents who work outside the home;
- $200 million over two years for the construction of a brand new Children's Hospital;
- A long-overdue increase and a doubling in the number of seniors eligible for the Saskatchewan Income Plan benefit; and,
- A new Low Income Tax Credit and the removal of 80,000 low-income earners from the tax rolls.
Brad is passionate about promoting Saskatchewan and is proud to tell the Saskatchewan story wherever he goes, including during recent trips to New York, Washington, Houston, Chicago, Toronto, Ottawa, China and Japan.
Of all the things he loves about Saskatchewan, he admits, “Swift Current, the Riders and our beautiful parks are at the top of the list.”
