Brad Wall is the Leader of the Saskatchewan Party and Premier of Saskatchewan. He was first elected as the MLA for the constituency of Swift Current in 1999 and 2003. He became leader of the Saskatchewan Party in March of 2004. Wall led the Saskatchewan Party to a majority government in the 2007 election.
Brad was born and raised in Swift Current. Brad learned to appreciate entrepreneurship at a young age as his father owned his own company and employed several community members. Brad learned about the value of job creation in building a community and how it provides security and opportunity for families.
After completing high school, Brad went on to earn an honours degree in Public Administration, and an advanced certificate in Political Studies from the University of Saskatchewan. He also earned the Investment Funds Institute of Canada certificate.
It was during his time at the U of S that Brad met his future wife Tami, an engineering student at the time. Brad and Tami, who operates her own design consulting business, have made Swift Current their home. They have three children, Megan, Colter and Faith.
Life Before Politics
Prior to being elected as an MLA, he successfully operated two businesses. In 1991 he started his own business and one of his clients, the City of Swift Current, offered him a full time position as the Director of Business Development. While at the City he also started a seasonal tourism business - "The Last Stand Adventure Company". In 1999, the Saskatchewan Economic Developers Association (SEDA) presented Brad with the Economic Developer of the Year Award (for 1998).
Prior to that, Wall spent time working on Parliament Hill and as a Ministerial Assistant for the provincial government in Saskatchewan. In the late 1980s, Brad was a founding member and the western co-chair of the Alliance for the Future of Young Canadians -- an organization dedicated to promoting free trade. The Free Trade Agreement has provided a significant boost to both the Canadian and Saskatchewan economies.
Brad has been active in his own community in service work and on a number of boards spanning local events, economic development, health care recruitment and retention, and he was a founding board member of the Southwest Centre for Entrepreneurial Development.
Leadership
In his role as Leader of the Saskatchewan Party, Brad has provided strong leadership on a variety of issues affecting the people of Saskatchewan, including the fight against crystal meth, timely treatment for cancer patients, health care waiting lists, economic development, and a greater role for Saskatchewan in western Canada and the nation.
In September of 2004, Brad Wall released his economic vision paper, "The Promise of Saskatchewan: A New Vision for Saskatchewan's Economy." The paper proposes a new model for economic development that gets government out of managing the economy and focuses on a more consultative process involving all stakeholders of the economy in a partnership model called Enterprise Saskatchewan.
An editorial in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix stated, "Wall's plan 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." (Jan. 22/05)
Vision For Saskatchewan
In February of 2005, at the Saskatchewan Party's annual convention, pundits and opinion leaders were impressed with Brad's vision for Saskatchewan and his ability to connect with the public.
"Wall's efforts to build bridges with First Nations is not going unnoticed. As a result, the chiefs are "enthralled" with Wall, says grand Chief Gary Merasty, one of a new generation of pragmatic young First Nations leaders." (Straight Talk, Randy Burton, Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Feb. 8/05)
It was at this convention that Brad also initiated the most comprehensive review of Saskatchewan Party policy, which resulted in a broadening of the party's policies.
A Saskatoon Star Phoenix editorial following the convention noted, "Brad Wall's weekend policy makeover of the Saskatchewan Party, accomplished after only a year at the party's helm, is noteworthy" (Feb. 8/05).