Ron Osika

Infobox Prime Minister


imagesize = 150px
name = Ron Osika
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caption =
office1 = Leader of the Opposition
term_start1 = 1995
term_end1 = 1996
predecessor1 = Lynda Haverstock
successor1 = Ken Krawetz
party1= Liberal
office2 = Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
term_start2 = 1999
term_end2 = 2001
predecessor2 = Glenn Hagel
successor2 = Myron Kowalsky
birth_date =
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
party = Liberal (1995-2001), NDP (since 2003)
spouse =
religion = |

Ronald (Ron) Osika (born circa 1939) is a Saskatchewan politician.

A former officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Osika's first foray into politics was an unsuccessful bid for a Reform Party nomination in 1992."Former Liberals in coalition government formally join Saskatchewan NDP", "Canadian Press", September 5, 2003]

He was first elected from Melville as Liberal MLA in the Saskatchewan legislature in the 1995 provincial election that saw the Liberals go from a single seat to 11 to form the official opposition. Osika served as interim Leader of the Opposition in November 1995 after Lynda Haverstock was forced to resign as leader by her caucus. [Canadian Press, "Osika to lead Saskatchewan Liberals", "Globe and Mail", November 16, 1995] He remained leader until November 1996 when Jim Melenchuk was chosen as Haverstock's permanent replacement. The 1999 provincial election reduced Roy Romanow's NDP to a minority government while also reducing the Liberals to third party status with four MLAs. The Liberals agreed to enter into a coalition government and Osika became Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1999 until February 2001 when he joined Calvert's Cabinet as Municipal Affairs minister. ["Swearing-in ceremony for new premier, cabinet", "Canadian Press", February 9, 2001] ["Saskatchewan Liberal Ron Osika decides to stay in coalition cabinet with NDP", "Canadian Press", October 30, 2001] In October 2001, the Liberal Party elected David Karwacki as its new leader. He ordered the Liberal MLAs to leave the coalition government but Osika and Melenchuk refused and became Independents signing a new coalition agreement with Calvert in late 2001. ["Sask premier Calvert confirms coalition deal with two former Liberal MLAs" "Canadian Press", November 7, 2001] In early 2002, Osika became Government Relations Minister and at various times had additional responsibilities for aboriginal affairs, SaskWater, the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and the Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation. He ran for re-election as an NDP candidate in the 2003 provincial election but was defeated in the riding of Melville-Saltcoats. [Parker, James, "NDP wins narrow Sask. victory: Party wins fourth consecutive term with razor-thin two-seat majority ", "Edmonton Journal", November 6, 2003] Osika turned to municipal politics after his defeat and has been mayor of Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan since 2005. ["Osika returns", "Canadian Press", April 28, 2005]

References