Merasty-Harrison Verbal Battle Intensifies

Merasty-Harrison Verbal Battle Intensifies

Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 15:10

Two political rivals in northern Saskatchewan continue to take swipes at each other in advance of what appears to be a certain re-match.

Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River Member of Parliament Gary Merasty accused former MP Jeremy Harrison of blurring the lines of what government officials can do when Harrison went on a campaign-style tour of the North this summer.

Harrison, who maintains he can do that sort of thing as a political advisor with the Tories, says Merasty’s statements show that he doesn’t have a solid knowledge of the inner workings of government.

Merasty says his experience in dealing with the federal government is a lot more extensive than Harrison’s.

Merasty also says if it’s true Harrison is simply a political advisor, he wonders what advice Harrison gave the prime minister when the Tories walked away from the Kelowna Accord.

Merasty unseated Harrison in Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River in a close, bitterly-fought election battle this past January, and Merasty says he welcomes the opportunity to face Harrison again — but wishes Harrison would just come out and say that he is running.

Harrison says he’s leaning that way, but hasn’t made a final call on that decision.