By Katie Ryan

After two terms as MLA of the Cut Knife–Turtleford constituency, Michael Chisholm will not be seeking re-election next year.
Hailing from Maidstone, Chisholm said his intent when he successfully ran for office for the first time in 2003 was to only complete two terms.
“When I first was elected I thought eight years would be a commitment I was prepared to stay, but I have other things I would like to do. It’s been almost seven now, but the eight years is going really quickly and the time comes,” he said last week to the Source.
Chisholm said his decision to originally throw his hat into the political ring was spurred largely by frustration at the former NDP government who did not “realize the province’s potential.” Reflecting on his years in politics, Chisholm said he is proud of the prosperity Saskatchewan has reaped over the last several years.
“I think overall the change in our province, particularly since 2007 with (Saskatchewan) becoming an economic leader in Western Canada and Canada, I really think our premier has elevated us to that level,” said Chisholm, an accountant, financial advisor and fourth generation farmer.
“The prospects for our youth in Saskatchewan, probably more than anything as well. All three of my sons left the province because there weren’t opportunities available at that time and we are seeing that change and also young people starting to come back. That is probably what prompted me in 2002-03 to really decide that I thought Saskatchewan had an exciting future and it was just not happening, so any small part I had to play in that would be certainly worthwhile for myself. It made it worthwhile.”
Since quietly announcing that he would not be seeking re-election come 2011 – the year Saskatchewan residents return to the polls – Chisholm said the response from his constituents has been minimal.
“Most people say they understand why I wouldn’t want to continue especially with the tone that was set this last term since the new Opposition leader has become part of the mix and that it certainly can’t be a comfortable position to be in,” he said.
“A lot of people who do even bother commenting on it would say I had given it two terms and that it should be my decision.”
With still many months ahead of the Sask. Party leading up to election, Chisholm said he is confident of a future win for his party.
“From what I understand of what is happening in the province, I would certainly think that the people of Saskatchewan are going to want to return the government that has led them there,” he said.
“Off the top of my head I would guess in larger numbers than in the last election.”
And musing on summer months ahead, Chisholm was equally confident of his constituency’s agricultural success and otherwise.
“We are fortunate in this part of the province the way our crops are looking compared to other parts of the province and hopefully we have weather that will allow us to get it off,” he said.
“Our cattle industry, I think there has been some real signs of improvement in our livestock industry and our oil and gas industry is rolling along so for this area I think things look pretty good.”
With over a year until the next provincial election, the Sask. Party still has ample time to secure a new candidate for the Cut Knife–Turtleford constituency, which consists of four towns, 10 villages, three resort villages, seven First Nations, a Hutterite colony and 14 rural municipalities, which include three organized hamlets and 11 resort hamlets.
As a Sask. Party MLA Chisholm has been a member of the Government Caucus Standing Policy Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice, a member of the Legislative Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice as well as the Public Accounts Committee. He has been serving on the Pacific Northwest Economic Region Finance and Audit Committee and in November 2008 he was elected fourth vice president.