5 Sask. politicians break down misconceptions of the job. First up: there's no summer break

While many people head to the lake or disconnect from the world over the summer months, Saskatchewan politicians say that's not quite so easy for them.

While it's great to have a phone to always stay connected, "the bad side of it is you're also connected and anybody and everybody forgets that you're on vacation," said former Saskatchewan Party MLA Paul Merriman, who served in cabinet positions under premiers Brad Wall and Scott Moe. "They just assume you're in your office and you're working." 

Merriman joined CBC's podcast This is Saskatchewan for its latest episode, which took a closer look at the life of politicians during summer.

Recent summers with devastating wildfires have meant politicians having to shorten vacations or time away. Merriman and Liberal MP Buckley Belanger both said it's a struggle to balance time in their constituencies, and in committee meetings, with being at local events and spending time in affected communities.

"Between trying to manage that travel schedule, we want to make sure that we're back home and people see us," Belanger said, speaking of himself and his fellow MPs. "We've been making every effort to be at both places. And that does take some time, but it's something that we were expecting and that we're committed to."

Local events are important too, whether they are flipping pancakes in the rural areas of their constituency, or the recent — and much larger — Midwest Legislative Conference in Saskatoon. The reason? It gives them real face time with the people who elected them.

For Lloydminster Sask. Party MLA Colleen Young, the current minister of energy and resources, summer means meeting with industry representatives, touring resource facilities and talking about developing the province's economy. 

"There hasn't been a break at this point in time for me," Young said. "But you know what? That doesn't bother me. I've always been  a hard worker and I've always put in the time that is necessary to learn, to listen and to try to understand what our province is all about and the people that we have living here in the challenges that they face."

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'We don't hate each other'

Across the political spectrum, elected officials say one of the biggest misconceptions is that people on opposing sides of the aisle are sworn enemies.

"We don't hate each other," Regina-Wascana Conservative MP Michael Kram said, adding that politicians are actually quite collegial outside of question period.

"When we were coming back [to Ottawa] after the election, I had the opportunity to meet Liberal and Bloc MPs, and their families, and we congratulated each other for getting re-elected. And it's almost like coming back for the first day of school after a long summer vacation."

As they sling hot dogs or paddle in Regina's Dragon Boat Festival, these politicians not only get a chance to meet with their constituents, but also a chance to see each other as people first and politicians second, according to Regina-University NDP MLA Sally Housser.

"Summertime is a really good time in that respect, to get to see the folks on the other side of the aisle, and just being out serving their communities and getting along."

This story is from the This is Saskatchewan podcast — your connection to the stories Saskatchewan is talking about. Every week, the podcast covers local issues that matter. Hear the voices that are creating change, shaping policy and fuelling creativity in Saskatchewan.

Tune into This is Saskatchewan every Wednesday on CBC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.