REGINA - The federal Liberals "bit the bullet" when they appointed a Saskatchewan New Democrat defector to run in an upcoming byelection rather than go through a nomination process that would have included former Tory leadership contender David Orchard, the party's campaign co-chairman said Friday.
Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has made it a priority to get more women involved in politics, and Joan Beatty -- the first aboriginal woman to be elected to the Saskatchewan legislature -- is exactly the type of candidate the Liberals need, said Senator David Smith.
"Sometimes politics and leadership are all about making tough decisions, and Stephane decided that this was the right decision so he made it,'' Smith said in a telephone interview from Toronto.
"We're prepared to bite the bullet to demonstrate that our commitment to increasing our number of women candidates -- particularly well-qualified ones -- is very real.''
Dion was not available for comment.
The federal byelection in the northern Saskatchewan riding of Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchhill River is set for March 17. It's one of four in the country to be held on that date.
The seat opened when Liberal Gary Merasty, another prominent First Nations leader in the north, left politics last summer.
As a provincial politician, Beatty represented the large northern Saskatchewan constituency of Cumberland, which falls within the boundaries of the federal riding.
Beatty, who was a CBC journalist before entering politics, was first elected to the provincial legislature in 2003 and served as minister of culture, youth and recreation in the NDP government. She was re-elected two months ago when the NDP was forced into Opposition by the Saskatchewan Party.
Beatty told reporters last month that she was approached to run in the federal byelection by both the Liberals and the NDP last summer -- before the provincial election. She said she kept her name on the provincial ballot because she had hoped the NDP would remain in government.
She did not respond to requests for an interview Friday, but NDP Leader Lorne Calvert figured she will face an uphill battle winning the seat as a turncoat.
"I think Joan is making a mistake,'' Calvert said. "She has indicated to us that, if she has an opportunity to serve in a federal house, that it may have more impact on the First Nations people of the north.''
Orchard -- a Saskatchewan farmer whose political notoriety stems from two failed attempts at the Progressive Conservative leadership before the formation of the current Conservative Party of Canada -- was a prominent supporter of Dion's leadership bid. He had publicly stated his intention to run for the Liberals in the byelection.
He did not return phone calls to both his home and office Friday.
Smith said Dion did talk with Orchard before the Beatty announcement was made, but the Senator wasn't aware of any deals being struck with Orchard.
"He may be frustrated, I just can't speak for him.''
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said he will start looking at dates for a provincial byelection. Provincial law dictates one must be held within six months of a seat becoming vacant.
Beatty's departure so soon after the provincial election raises a lot of concerns, Wall said.
"It's true that circumstances change. MLAs mid-term move on or there can be illnesses, there are all manner of reasons for potential changes,'' Wall said.
"But we're just over a month from when the returns came in. It's hard to fathom that this wasn't a possibility known to others long before the decision she made here in the new year.''
