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Donna Harpauer

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Donna Harpauer
Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly
for Humboldt-Watrous
Humboldt (2003–2016)
In office
November 5, 2003 – October 1, 2024
Preceded byArlene Julé
Succeeded byRacquel Hilbert
Deputy Premier of Saskatchewan
In office
November 9, 2020 – October 1, 2024
PremierScott Moe
Preceded byGordon Wyant
Succeeded byJim Reiter
Dean of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
In office
August 15, 2021 – October 1, 2024
Preceded byBuckley Belanger
Succeeded byKen Cheveldayoff
Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly
for Watrous
In office
September 16, 1999 – November 5, 2003
Preceded byEric Upshall
Succeeded byRiding Abolished
Personal details
BornGuernsey, Saskatchewan
Political partySaskatchewan Party
Residence(s)Humboldt, Saskatchewan

Donna Harpauer is a former Canadian politician. She served as the member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the constituency of Humboldt-Watrous and is a member of the Saskatchewan Party. First elected in 1999, Harpauer was Saskatchewan's Minister of Finance from 2017 to 2024—spanning the governments of Brad Wall and Scott Moe—and Deputy Premier from 2020 to 2024. Harpauer was the longest-serving female cabinet minister in Canadian history. She retired in 2024.

Early life and career

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Harpauer was raised on a farm near Guernsey, Saskatchewan. She received a medical laboratory technologist certificate from Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon and worked for a time in the field of microbiology.[1]

Political career

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Harpauer was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 1999 election, defeating New Democratic Party incumbent Eric Upshall in the riding of Watrous. That riding was dissolved ahead of the 2003 election, and Harpauer was re-elected in the new constituency of Humboldt. She was re-elected again in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2020. Harpauer served in cabinet every term after the Saskatchewan Party first formed government in the 2007 election, making her one of the longest-serving cabinet ministers in Canada.[2][3] In January 2024, Harpauer became the longest serving female cabinet minister in Canadian history.[4]

Harpauer's time in cabinet includes two stints as the Minister of Social Services. While in that role in 2016, Harpauer oversaw cuts to social assistance affecting approximately 2,700 people, which Harpauer said were meant to crack down on 'stacking' or 'double-dipping' on welfare benefits.[5][6] When Harpauer suggested that the cutbacks were based on a recommendation from a poverty reduction working group, members of that group responded that this was false, and that they did not endorse the social assistance reforms.[7] The cuts were criticized for reducing already meager benefits.[5] Harpauer later cited the 2009 introduction of new disability benefits as a career highlight.[4]

In 2017, Harpauer was named Minister of Finance. Harpauer was in charge of the 2017 budget, which drew criticism for its austerity, including cuts to education funding, grants for municipalities, library funding—the lone cut that was eventually reversed—and the shuttering of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company.[8][9] The unpopularity of the 2017 budget contributed to Brad Wall's decision to retire in 2018.[9]

During the 2018 leadership election to replace Wall, Harpauer chaired Scott Moe's successful leadership campaign.[10] In 2020, Moe named Harpauer the first female deputy premier in the province in over three decades.[2]

The Saskatchewan Party ran its 2020 election campaign on a promise to balance the provincial budget by 2024. Months after the election, in the spring of 2021, Harpauer admitted that it would be "very, very difficult to meet that goal", and that "in all good likelihood, we'll have to change that goalpost."[11]

In February 2024, it was announced that Harpauer would not be seeking re-election in the 2024 provincial election.[12] Harpauer stated that after 25 years a new perspective would be welcome, and cited a desire to spend more time with family.[13] When Harpauer introduced her final budget in the spring of 2024, she described the economic challenge facing Saskatchewan as having "growth without the benefits of growth".[10]

Controversies

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In 2017, it was reported that when serving as Minister of Social Services in 2008, Harpauer used private email for government-related matters. In one email she told a former campaign staffer, "I will hire you by contract if need be to get around the rules defined by the [Public Service Commission]." In another email to the same person, she stated, "The Public Service Commission is getting all crappy about us hiring people without open competition... Blah... Blah... Blah. Lots of fun. I really don't care what they think!!" The former staffer said Harpauer told him to use private email because "we wanted to be free from the freedom of information requests."[14]

In 2018, Harpauer was revealed to have twice had hotel stays for personal trips in Pinehouse—one in 2016 and another in 2018—paid for by the village. Harpauer did not disclose any gifts or benefits for the stays in her personal disclosure statements. Harpauer stated that she was unaware that the village had paid for the accommodations, and that she would repay the village.[15]

In 2022, Harpauer was criticized for an expense of nearly $8,000 for a return charter flight between Regina and North Battleford.[16] Harpauer defended the trip, which was made to speak at a local chamber of commerce luncheon, stating that she was "exhausted" at the time.[17]

In 2024, when Speaker Randy Weekes unveiled allegations of harassment and bullying within the Saskatchewan Party caucus, he read into the record a text message from Harpauer accusing him of lying and favouring the Opposition, part of what Weekes described as a campaign by the governing party to influence his decisions.[18]

Electoral results

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2020 Saskatchewan general election: Humboldt-Watrous
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Donna Harpauer 5,713 72.81
New Democratic Wendy Sekulich 1,180 15.04
Buffalo Constance Maffenbeier 529 6.74
Progressive Conservative Rose Buscholl 243 3.10
Green Jim Ternier 181 2.31
Total 7,846 100.0
Source: Elections Saskatchewan[19]
2016 Saskatchewan general election: Humboldt-Watrous
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Donna Harpauer 5,818 74.54
New Democratic Adam Duke 1,588 20.34
Liberal Robert Tutka 212 2.71
Green Lori Harper 187 2.39
Total 7,805 100.0
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division; Elections Saskatchewan[20]
2011 Saskatchewan general election: Humboldt
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Donna Harpauer 5,677 73.02
New Democratic Gord Bedient 1,807 23.24
Green Lynn Oliphant 291 3.74
Total 7,775 100.0
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division
2007 Saskatchewan general election: Humboldt
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Donna Harpauer 5,049 57.57
New Democratic Brenda Curtis 2,456 28.01
Liberal Brent Loehr 1,048 11.95
Green Anita Rocamora 217 2.47
Total 8,770 100.0
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division
2003 Saskatchewan general election: Humboldt
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Donna Harpauer 3,464 41.99
New Democratic Bryan Barnes 3,291 39.89
Liberal Les C. Alm 1,495 18.12
Western Independence Del Anderson 1381 –
Total 8,250 100.0
1 "Voided - candidacy withdrawn"[21]
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division
1999 Saskatchewan general election: Watrous
Party Candidate Votes %
Saskatchewan Donna Harpauer 3,572 45.00
New Democratic Eric Upshall 2,928 36.89
Liberal Ray Hall 1,437 18.11
Total 7,937 100.0
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division

Cabinet positions

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Saskatchewan provincial government of Scott Moe
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
cont'd from Wall Ministry Minister of Finance
February 2, 2018 – October 1, 2024 		Incumbent
Saskatchewan provincial government of Brad Wall
Cabinet posts (8)
Predecessor Office Successor
Kevin Doherty Minister of Finance
August 30, 2017 – February 2, 2018 		cont'd into Moe Ministry
Jim Reiter Minister of Government Relations
August 23, 2016 – August 30, 2017 		Larry Doke
Jim Reiter Minister of First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs
August 23, 2016 – August 30, 2017 		Larry Doke
June Draude Minister of Social Services
June 5, 2014 – August 23, 2016 		Tina Beaudry-Mellor
Tim McMillan[22] Minister of Crown Investments
May 25, 2012 – June 5, 2014 		Don McMorris
Ken Krawetz Minister of Education
June 29, 2010 – May 25, 2012 		Russ Marchuk
June Draude Provincial Secretary of Saskatchewan
June 29, 2010 – November 30, 2011 		Wayne Elhard
Kevin Yates[23] Minister of Social Services
November 21, 2007 – June 29, 2010 		June Draude

References

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  1. ^ "Hon. Donna Harpauer - Saskatchewan Party". Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  2. ^ a b Djuric, Mickey (2020-11-09). "Premier Scott Moe names new Saskatchewan cabinet, 1st woman in over 30 years becomes deputy premier". Global News. Archived from the original on 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  3. ^ Benson, Andrew (2023-08-25). "Long time MLA Don Morgan won't seek re-election". Global News. Archived from the original on 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  4. ^ a b Mandes, Jeanelle (2024-01-05). "Saskatchewan's Donna Harpauer longest-serving female cabinet minister in Canada". Global News. Archived from the original on 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  5. ^ a b Mills, Peter (2016-08-10). "'I spent the weekend crying': Sask. residents deal with Social Services changes". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  6. ^ Chabun, Will (2016-08-09). "Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer defends assistance changes". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  7. ^ Fraser, D.C. (2016-08-11). "Working group says clawbacks were never part of the social assistance plan". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  8. ^ MacPherson, Alex (2017-10-17). "'The effects of this budget are long-lasting and continuous': Sask. Federation of Labour plans protest". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  9. ^ a b Martell, Creeden (2017-08-10). "Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall retiring from politics". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2017-08-13. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  10. ^ a b Mandryk, Murray (2024-03-19). "Finance Minister Donna Harpauer's last budget will cap off a career of firsts". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  11. ^ Taylor, Stephanie (2021-03-02). "Saskatchewan's finance minister hints province won't eliminate deficit by 2024". CBC News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  12. ^ Quon, Alexander (2024-02-06). "4 high-profile Saskatchewan cabinet ministers won't seek re-election: Saskatchewan Party". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  13. ^ Lee, Cam (2024-02-08). "Harpauer explains decision not to seek re-election". Northeast Now. Archived from the original on 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  14. ^ Leo, Geoff (2017-10-12). "Emails show Sask. minister acted to 'get around the rules' in hiring". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
  15. ^ James, Thia (2018-12-17). "Finance minister Donna Harpauer to repay hotel stays in Pinehouse financed by village". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 2018-12-18. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
  16. ^ "Harpauer spent $8K on chartered flight to North Battleford: Report". CKOM. 2022-07-18. Archived from the original on 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  17. ^ O'Donovan, Connor (2022-07-19). "Sask. Minister Harpauer defends $8K charter flight to North Battleford". Global News. Archived from the original on 2022-07-19. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  18. ^ Zieverink, Abby (2024-05-16). "Speaker Randy Weekes cuts up Sask. Party membership card". CKOM. Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  19. ^ "A Report on the Twenty-Ninth General Election, Volume I: Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  20. ^ "2016 General Election Results". Elections Saskatchewan. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  21. ^ "Twenty-Fifth Provincial General Election (November 5, 2003)". Elections Saskatchewan. 5 November 2003. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  22. ^ as Minister Responsible for Crown Investments Corporation
  23. ^ as Minister of Community Resources
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