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Donna Harpauer

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The Honourable
Donna Harpauer
ECS
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 – November 7, 2024
PremierScott Moe
Preceded byGordon Wyant
Succeeded byJim Reiter
Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly
for Watrous
In office
September 16, 1999 – November 5, 2003
Preceded byEric Upshall
Succeeded byRiding Abolished
Personal details
Born
Guernsey, Saskatchewan
PartySaskatchewan Party
Children3[1]

Donna Harpauer is a Canadian politician. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1999 to 2024, representing the constituencies of Watrous, Humboldt and Humboldt-Watrous as a member of the Saskatchewan Party. Harpauer served in the Executive Council of Saskatchewan from 2007 to 2024 in several different portfolios, including as Minister of Finance from 2017 to 2024 and concurrently as Deputy Premier from 2020 to 2024. Harpauer is the longest-served female cabinet minister in Canadian history.

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.[2]

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 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.[3][4] In January 2024, Harpauer became the longest serving female cabinet minister in Canadian history.[5]

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.[6][7] 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.[8] The cuts were criticized for reducing already meager benefits.[6] Harpauer later cited the 2009 introduction of new disability benefits as a career highlight.[5]

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.[9][10] The unpopularity of the 2017 budget contributed to Brad Wall's decision to retire in 2018.[10]

During the 2018 leadership election to replace Wall, Harpauer chaired Scott Moe's successful leadership campaign.[11] In 2020, Moe named Harpauer the first female deputy premier in the province in over three decades.[3]

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."[12]

In February 2024, it was announced that Harpauer would not be seeking re-election in the 2024 provincial election.[13] Harpauer stated that after 25 years a new perspective would be welcome, and cited a desire to spend more time with family.[14] 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".[11]

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."[15]

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.[16]

In 2022, Harpauer was criticized for an expense of nearly $8,000 for a return charter flight between Regina and North Battleford.[17] Harpauer defended the trip, which was made to speak at a local chamber of commerce luncheon, stating that she was "exhausted" at the time.[18]

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.[19]

Electoral results

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2020 Saskatchewan general election: Humboldt-Watrous
Party Candidate Votes%
SaskatchewanDonna Harpauer5,71372.81
New DemocraticWendy Sekulich1,18015.04
BuffaloConstance Maffenbeier5296.74
Progressive ConservativeRose Buscholl2433.10
GreenJim Ternier1812.31
Total 7,846100.0
Source: Elections Saskatchewan[20]
2016 Saskatchewan general election: Humboldt-Watrous
Party Candidate Votes%
SaskatchewanDonna Harpauer5,81874.54
New DemocraticAdam Duke1,58820.34
LiberalRobert Tutka2122.71
GreenLori Harper1872.39
Total 7,805100.0
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division; Elections Saskatchewan[21]
2011 Saskatchewan general election: Humboldt
Party Candidate Votes%
SaskatchewanDonna Harpauer5,67773.02
New DemocraticGord Bedient1,80723.24
GreenLynn Oliphant2913.74
Total 7,775100.0
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division
2007 Saskatchewan general election: Humboldt
Party Candidate Votes%
SaskatchewanDonna Harpauer5,04957.57
New DemocraticBrenda Curtis2,45628.01
LiberalBrent Loehr1,04811.95
GreenAnita Rocamora2172.47
Total 8,770100.0
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division
2003 Saskatchewan general election: Humboldt
Party Candidate Votes%
SaskatchewanDonna Harpauer3,46441.99
New DemocraticBryan Barnes3,29139.89
LiberalLes C. Alm1,49518.12
Western IndependenceDel Anderson1381–
Total 8,250100.0
1 "Voided - candidacy withdrawn"[22]
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division
1999 Saskatchewan general election: Watrous
Party Candidate Votes%
SaskatchewanDonna Harpauer3,57245.00
New DemocraticEric Upshall2,92836.89
LiberalRay Hall1,43718.11
Total 7,937100.0
Source: Saskatchewan Archives - Election Results by Electoral Division

Cabinet positions

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References

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  1. ↑ Marr, Tonaya (May 17, 2012). "Student assessment introduced". Leader Post. Regina, Saskatchewan. p. A3. ProQuest 1014285962
  2. ↑ "Hon. Donna Harpauer - Saskatchewan Party". Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Djuric, Mickey (November 9, 2020). "Premier Scott Moe names new Saskatchewan cabinet, 1st woman in over 30 years becomes deputy premier". Global News. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  4. ↑ Benson, Andrew (August 25, 2023). "Long time MLA Don Morgan won't seek re-election". Global News. Archived from the original on August 26, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Mandes, Jeanelle (January 5, 2024). "Saskatchewan's Donna Harpauer longest-serving female cabinet minister in Canada". Global News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Mills, Peter (August 10, 2016). "'I spent the weekend crying': Sask. residents deal with Social Services changes". CBC News. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  7. ↑ Chabun, Will (August 9, 2016). "Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer defends assistance changes". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  8. ↑ Fraser, D.C. (August 11, 2016). "Working group says clawbacks were never part of the social assistance plan". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  9. ↑ MacPherson, Alex (October 17, 2017). "'The effects of this budget are long-lasting and continuous': Sask. Federation of Labour plans protest". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Martell, Creeden (August 10, 2017). "Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall retiring from politics". CBC News. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Mandryk, Murray (March 19, 2024). "Finance Minister Donna Harpauer's last budget will cap off a career of firsts". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  12. ↑ Taylor, Stephanie (March 2, 2021). "Saskatchewan's finance minister hints province won't eliminate deficit by 2024". CBC News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  13. ↑ Quon, Alexander (February 6, 2024). "4 high-profile Saskatchewan cabinet ministers won't seek re-election: Saskatchewan Party". CBC News. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  14. ↑ Lee, Cam (February 8, 2024). "Harpauer explains decision not to seek re-election". Northeast Now. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  15. ↑ Leo, Geoff (October 12, 2017). "Emails show Sask. minister acted to 'get around the rules' in hiring". CBC News. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  16. ↑ James, Thia (December 17, 2018). "Finance minister Donna Harpauer to repay hotel stays in Pinehouse financed by village". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on December 18, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Harpauer spent $8K on chartered flight to North Battleford: Report". CKOM. July 18, 2022. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  18. ↑ O'Donovan, Connor (July 19, 2022). "Sask. Minister Harpauer defends $8K charter flight to North Battleford". Global News. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  19. ↑ Zieverink, Abby (May 16, 2024). "Speaker Randy Weekes cuts up Sask. Party membership card". CKOM. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  20. ↑ "A Report on the Twenty-Ninth General Election, Volume I: Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections Saskatchewan. June 30, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  21. ↑ "2016 General Election Results". Elections Saskatchewan. April 4, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Twenty-Fifth Provincial General Election (November 5, 2003)". Elections Saskatchewan. November 5, 2003. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  23. ↑ as Minister Responsible for Crown Investments Corporation
  24. ↑ as Minister of Community Resources
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