Sask. political leaders pump up the volume at debate

While Saskatchewan's political leaders kept their fingers on hot-button issues, viewers of Tueday's debate might have been excused for keeping theirs on the volume button.

The one-hour televised debate had Liberal Leader David Karwacki, NDP Leader Lorne Calvert and Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall explaining their platforms and trying to reach out to voters, but there were also numerous times where it turned into a verbal free-for-all, with shouting galore.

Host Holly Preston interrupted the leaders, who weretrying to talk over one another, on a number of occasions.

Between the skirmishes, the candidates answered questions about provincial finances, handling Saskatchewan's booming economy, greenhouse gases, waiting lists in the health-care system, crumbling highways and violence in small communities.

Six of the nine questions were put to the leaders by members of the public via video clips. The other three questions, submitted by Global TV, CTV and CBC, were posed by Preston.

Throughout the 60-minute event, which was held in CBC Saskatchewan's Regina galleria, there were a number of quips and digs.

CalverttookWall to task overhis party'spromise toappoint apanel of expertsto an agency called Enterprise Saskatchewan to manage economic development.

During a discussion about managing the provinces finances, Calvert noted that Wall had worked for the debt-ridden regime of Progressive Conservative leader Grant Devine.

"How many budgets did you balance?" he asked.

Wall replied that the NDP has used a fiscal "shell game" in the past to stay out of the red.

Wall also blamed Calvert's government for long waiting lists, the poor state of the highways and failing to hire enough police officers.

Wall took aim at Karwacki for a Liberal platform that he said had an $800-million hole in it.

Karwacki, whose party didn't elect any MLAs in 2003, attacked both Calvert and Wall after their MLAs adopted what he called a "gold-plated" health-care plan.

"We need to have Liberals in the legislature," he said.

The Liberal leader also aimed some sharp jabs at Calvert, turning his back on him at one point after saying, "I don't believe you're going to form the next government."

When Karwacki kept talking, Calvert replied, "I guess when you're short on votes, you go long on words."

Later, Karwacki referred to Calvert's promise to put a $15 cap on the price of prescription drugs for another dig at the NDP leader, saying Calvert should get a $15 prescription for "truth serum."

Wall, who has engaged in numerous fiery debates with Calvert in the legislature, struck a more serene tone Tuesday night. Calling the NDP government "tired and old" has been a virtual mantra over the past three weeks of the election campaign, but he didn't use the phrase once during the debate.

Calvert worked on delivering a message that he has repeated many times on the campaign trail that Saskatchewan is more prosperous than it has ever been and the NDP deserves another mandate.

Theelection is Nov.7.