Mark Docherty (politician) explained

Mark Docherty
Constituency Am:Regina Coronation Park
Assembly:Saskatchewan Legislative
Term Start:November 7, 2011
Term End:February 10, 2023
Predecessor:Kim Trew
Successor:Noor Burki
Office2:Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Term Start2:March 12, 2018
Term End2:November 30, 2020
Premier2:Scott Moe
Lieutenant Governor2:Vaughn Schofield
W. Thomas Molloy
Russell Mirasty
Predecessor2:Corey Tochor
Successor2:Randy Weekes
Party:Saskatchewan Party
Birth Place:Regina, Saskatchewan
Residence:Regina, Saskatchewan
Profession:Social work

Mark Docherty is a Canadian politician, who represented the district of Regina Coronation Park in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly as a member of the Saskatchewan Party from 2011 to 2023. Docherty served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2018 to 2020.

Political career

Docherty was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan in the 2011 general election.[1] He was re-elected in the 2016 and 2020 provincial elections.

Docherty served in Brad Wall's cabinet as Minister of Parks, Culture, and Sport from 2014 to 2016.[2] [3] In the 2018 leadership race to replace the retiring Wall, Docherty supported Gordon Wyant.[4] Wyant was eliminated on the third ballot in an election won by Scott Moe.[5]

In March 2018, Docherty was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly after the resignation of former Speaker Corey Tochor.[6] Following the 2020 general election, Docherty once again stood for election as Speaker, but was defeated on the final ballot by Randy Weekes.[7]

Docherty announced in February 2023 that he was resigning his seat in the Legislature effective February 10.[8] Although Docherty did not explain his reasoning for resigning, ahead of summer 2023 by-elections he was vocally critical of the Saskatchewan Party's record; he stated that "People are struggling" in reference to the party's tagline, "growth that works for everyone", stating further that "It hasn't worked for everyone in Coronation Park".[9] [10] New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Noor Burki won the Coronation Park by-election to replace Docherty.

In the lead-up to the 2024 general election, Docherty joined fellow former Saskatchewan Party MLA Glen Hart and former party staffer Ian Hanna in endorsing the NDP under leader Carla Beck, whose leadership qualities Docherty praised.[11] [12] Docherty stated that the Saskatchewan Party had "lost their way", alleging that Moe refused meetings to discuss issues. He cited the 2023 Parents' Bill of Rights as a policy designed to "subjugate people", and also related that during his time as Speaker, he felt "pressurized" to "rule in the government's favour on everything", adding on to allegations made by Weekes of being coerced in the role after taking over from Docherty.

Personal life

Docherty was born and raised in Regina. He earned university degrees in Science and Human Justice, and holds a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Regina. He spent his early career working with vulnerable youth through roles at community and youth centres.[13] Docherty has multiple sclerosis.

Notes and References

  1. News: Chabun . Will . Pacholik . Barb . 2011-11-08 . NDP loses seats in Regina as Sask. Party gains . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111211070139/http://www.leaderpost.com/news/loses+seats+Regina+Sask+Party+gains/5672240/story.html . 2011-12-11 . 2011-12-11 . The Leader-Post.
  2. News: 2014-06-05 . Wall adds 3 new faces to Saskatchewan cabinet . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140606053156/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/wall-adds-3-new-faces-to-saskatchewan-cabinet-1.2665932 . 2014-06-06 . 2024-11-13 . . Brand new to cabinet are Jennifer Campeau (central services), Mark Docherty (parks, culture and sport) and Scott Moe (environment)..
  3. News: 2016-08-23 . 4 new faces as Brad Wall shuffles cabinet . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160824185102/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/4-new-faces-as-wall-shuffles-cabinet-1.3732480 . 2016-08-24 . 2024-11-13 . . Out as well are two who have been demoted to legislative secretary positions: Mark Docherty and Jennifer Campeau..
  4. News: MacPherson . Alex . 2017-08-25 . Gord Wyant officially enters race to become Saskatchewan Party leader and new premier . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170825190143/https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/gord-wyant-officially-enters-race-to-become-saskatchewan-party-leader-and-new-premier . 2017-08-25 . 2024-11-13 . . Regina Coronation Park MLA Mark Docherty was at the announcement and confirmed his support for Wyant..
  5. News: MacPherson . Alex . 2018-01-29 . How the voting broke down in Scott Moe's Saskatchewan Party leadership race victory . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180131150021/https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/how-the-voting-broke-down-in-scott-moes-saskatchewan-party-leadership-race-victory . 2018-01-31 . 2024-05-06 . Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
  6. News: Fraser . D. C. . 2018-03-12 . Mark Docherty becomes Speaker of Saskatchewan legislative assembly . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180317181810/https://leaderpost.com/news/politics/mark-docherty-becomes-speaker-of-saskatchewan-legislative-assembly . 2018-03-17 . 2024-11-13 . Regina Leader-Post.
  7. News: 2020-11-30 . Randy Weekes elected Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241112233310/https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/local-news/randy-weekes-elected-speaker-of-the-saskatchewan-legislature-4159623 . 2024-11-12 . 2024-11-12 . Sask Today.
  8. Web site: Simes . Jeremy . 2023-02-06 . MLA Mark Docherty resignation launches contest for Regina Coronation . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209235615/https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/regina-mla-mark-docherty-resigning-byelection-to-come . 2023-02-09 . 2023-02-20 . Regina Leader-Post.
  9. News: Simes . Jeremy . 2023-07-14 . Former Sask. Party MLA suggests government's approach not resonating with voters ahead of byelection . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230715230858/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-party-mla-mark-docherty-questions-government-1.6907870 . 2023-07-15 . 2024-11-13 . . The Canadian Press.
  10. News: Salloum . Alec . 2023-08-10 . Sask NDP poised to pick up two Regina seats in byelection victories . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811060024/https://leaderpost.com/news/politics/sask-ndp-poised-to-pick-up-two-regina-seats-in-byelection-victories . 2023-08-11 . 2024-11-13 . Regina Leader-Post.
  11. News: Massie . Gillian . 2024-10-17 . Three former Sask. Party members back the NDP ahead of provincial election . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241113011358/https://www.ckom.com/2024/10/17/three-former-sask-party-members-back-the-ndp-ahead-of-provincial-election/ . 2024-11-13 . 2024-11-13 . CKOM.
  12. News: Simes . Jeremy . 2024-10-17 . Sask. NDP Leader Beck endorsed by former Sask. Party MLAs . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241113224420/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/cp-beck-endorsed-mlas-1.7355406 . 2024-11-13 . 2024-11-13 . . The Canadian Press.
  13. Web site: Hon. Mark Docherty – Saskatchewan Party . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925224907/https://www.legassembly.sk.ca/mlas/template/?first=Mark&last=Docherty . 2020-09-25 . 2024-11-13 . Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.

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