Premier Romanow, colleagues past, present and future, friends and fellow New Democrats…

It’s a real treat for me to be in P.A. tonight to celebrate an anniversary that is near to my own heart.

October 20th is a memorable date on my calendar for a couple reasons.

October 20th, 2006 marks Tommy Douglas’s 102nd birthday and the 20th anniversary of the election of the class of `86 of which I’m proud to be a member.

It might not have been the stupidest thing Grant Devine ever did but can you imagine the nerve of a Tory calling an election on Tommy’s birthday.

Well he was rewarded for his arrogance with a 2nd place finish in the popular vote and 16 new NDP members to deal with in the house, among them these two Prince Albert boys.

Now just the other day somebody reminded me that back in 1985, Myron and Eldon ran against each other for the nomination here in Prince Albert. It was a close race but Myron won out.

Not to be outdone, Eldon crossed the street and won the nomination in Prince Albert – Duck Lake to set the stage for their joint victory party 20 years ago tonight.

They started out their political careers as rivals but soon became one of the best teams around. It almost sounds romantic doesn’t it?

And it’s not at all unusual that these two should celebrate their anniversary together. I know that some have likened them to an old married couple.

In fact, I’m told that during the 2003 election, it became apparent to campaign workers trying to keep their pamphlets separate that these two were even starting to look alike.

God forbid that ever happen to Deb Higgins and Glenn Hagel in Moose Jaw.

As I said earlier, I had the great privilege of belonging to the class of `86. I had the privilege of working and learning right alongside Eldon and Myron under the tutelage first of Allan Blakeney and, soon after, Roy Romanow.

I had the privilege of working with these men when we formed government in 1991 and in the challenging years that followed as Premier Romanow steered this province away from bankruptcy and put us instead on the path to prosperity.

I’ve had the privilege of working with these men for the last five years in my own tenure as Premier as we have built upon the solid foundations laid by a decade of sacrifice a province whose future has never been brighter.

For twenty years I’ve worked with these men. For twenty years I’ve known these men. But just when you think you know everything there is to know about someone…

Eldon, I heard a troubling story about you today.

It seems that in the early years, when Eldon was becoming active in the party and even in his early years as an MLA, he had a very creative way of addressing staff shortages at the health food store.

He would call a meeting. He would hold the meeting at the store. When folks arrived at the store, there would be some task that obviously needed attending to. Often it would be a task that Eldon could convince the others was not only fun but could be carried out while the meeting was in progress.

Eldon Lautermilch - the Tom Sawyer of Prince Albert.

I’m told this trick lasted until the first time Eldon tried to convince his executive it was fun to bag dried chili peppers.

Friends, as good as Eldon was, and is, at getting work out of others, he never shrinks from taking on big jobs himself.

Eldon has served the government of Saskatchewan capably in many portfolios:

Minister of Rural Development; Minister for Saskatchewan Property Management; Minister of Energy and Mines; Minister of Economic and Cooperative Development; Government House Leader; Minister of Industry and Resources; Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs; Highways…

Eldon is there a portfolio you haven’t held yet?

In addition to these duties, Eldon and has served his constituents with real passion as well.

These two priorities, which can sometimes be competing priorities for a Cabinet Minister, really complement each other in Eldon’s role as Minister responsible for the Forestry Secretariat.

The work that Eldon and the Forestry Task Force have done and will do means so much to this community and this province. This work may prove to be the most important of Eldon’s many contributions. And I want to take this opportunity to once again thank him publicly for his leadership in this area.

Speaking of leadership, Myron Kowlasky has, without question, one of the toughest jobs in Saskatchewan - maintaining order in the Legislative Assembly.

I’m sure Myron’s teaching background has come in handy in his role as Speaker of the House. I sometimes expect him to start turning the lights off and on until everyone quiets down.

It helps of course that his fellow Prince Albertans, Eldon and Andrew are aware keenly aware of the challenges his job presents him with and, out of loyalty, comport themselves with the utmost restraint and courtesy at all times.

Now if we could just get Lon Borgerson to settle down…

Friends, everyone who knows Myron Kowalsky knows he is deeply committed to his constituents, to ensuring that their concerns are heard in the halls of government. He has been a tireless advocate for this community and its people.

While maintaining these strong ties to his home community, Myron has also succeeded in becoming a true citizen of the world.

I don’t think he was ever prouder than when he had the opportunity, afforded him by his role as Speaker of the House, to participate as an international observer in the 2004 Presidential Election in Ukraine.

Myron is also very active and has served in leadership roles in both the Midwestern Legislative Conference and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, organizations devoted to fostering understanding and cooperation between nations and governments.

Myron’s dedication to his constituents and the leadership he has shown as Speaker are hallmarks of a career distinguished by quiet strength, dignity and deep compassion.

I know that when the time comes in the upcoming legislative session for members to pay tribute to Speaker Kowalsky, their will be no empty platitudes offered but rather words of sincere admiration for a man who has been a credit to his community, to his party and to his province.

Friends, when I think about Myron Kowalsky and Eldon Lautermilch, I can’t help but think that the people of Prince Albert, over the course of the last twenty years, have been doubly blessed.

They have been represented by two very different personalities, two very different people who have in common a deep and unwavering commitment to making life better for the people and families they represent and serve - a deep commitment to their neighbours, on Central Avenue in Prince Albert and as far away as Chernivtsi, Ukraine.

It’s been my pleasure to have a little fun tonight at their expense. It’s been my honour to work with them these last twenty years.

Thank you.