Sask. premier has work cut out for him facing reality of another Liberal minority government

This Opinion piece was written by Sarath Peiris, who spent his career at the Moose Jaw Times Herald and Saskatoon StarPhoenix. He was the StarPhoenix's opinions editor and editorial writer.

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Saskatchewan once again finds itself on the outside looking in after Monday's federal election, which saw the entire province covered in blue. Saskatchewan outdid even neighbouring Alberta to establish itself as the most Conservative of provinces.

With the overall result of another Liberal minority government, it would appear that Saskatchewan can look forward to a few more years — or 18 months, as Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole suggested in a peculiar "concession" speech — of being a supplicant at the Church of Our Lady of Eternal Grievance, with reverend Scott Moe pounding the pulpit.

Certainly, Saskatchewan has cause to be aggrieved at a Justin Trudeau-led minority, whose social and economic policies are often at odds with the conservative attitudes of this province, especially when it comes to the bread-and-butter issues of energy policy and carbon pricing.

Premier Moe futilely has fought tooth and nail against Trudeau's carbon pricing scheme, losing in the Supreme Court. Ignoring that his predecessor Brad Wall caved into former Conservative PM Stephen Harper on equalization payments, Moe has cast his lot with Alberta's Jason Kenney in demanding "fairness" for this province.

The next months and years will remain contentious, with plenty of fed bashing.