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“The candidate in Weyburn made a personal decision to step down and he’s off the team. We’re very much focused on what’s facing Saskatchewan people today,” Broten said on Friday. “I don’t think anyone wants this campaign to spiral down into a thing where it’s trolling through Facebook and Twitter accounts and finding every example of a bad joke, an off-colour statement.

“That is an offensive comment and that is inappropriate. This candidate stepped down, he’s off the team. What I’m focused on here is the issues of the day in terms of cost of living and making sure we’re cutting Sask. Party waste.”

Speaking Friday during a campaign stop in Saskatoon, Wall said social media has become an important part of the political process.

“If you were or applying for a job or I was applying for a job, I’d expect there to be due diligence by the company to research the candidates. They probably look at things they’ve said or things they have expressed on Facebook or Twitter … these things matter in life,” said Wall, noting that he has seen the social media posts in question.

“All of us as candidates are applying for a job. It’s a pretty important job to try to represent Saskatchewan people as best we can and I think there should be a high standard so we try, again, as best we can to look for this information … I think it’s very important in an election. You’re applying for job as premier. It’s important for Mr. Broten to be transparent. Is (Jeworski’s resignation) really for personal reasons or was there something else. Was there more posts or what was it exactly?”

Saskatchewan Party candidate Don McMorris was more pointed in his comments, saying Broten “failed miserably” in the way he handled Jeworski’s resignation.

“Two of the most important qualities of leadership are transparency and accountability,” McMorris said in a statement.

“Mr. Broten wants to be responsible for the entire government of Saskatchewan and yet he doesn’t want to take responsibility for his own candidate or even tell the truth about why he stepped down. Not transparent. Not accountable. This is a colossal failure of leadership by Cam Broten.”