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It appears to be part of long-simmering tensions between Scheer and some in the riding’s First Nations community going back to Scheer’s 2006 re-election and a meeting between the MP and the Fort Qu’Appelle Tribal Council. (One unflattering version of the events recently posted by a former representative of the FQTC in attendance has since been removed from Facebook.)

With race relations exploding as a campaign issue last week after the revelations of Trudeau’s past moronic penchant for blackface and brown-face at costume parties, Scheer needs to address why some in the First Nations community in his own riding are frustrated with his representation.

But there are other provincewide issues to which Scheer needs to be held to account — not the least of which is Stephen Harper’s 2006 election promise to remove non-renewable resources from the federal equalization formula that would have increased Saskatchewan’s share of federal government transfers by a minimum $800 million annually.Some will argue this is political history, but Scheer has spent 12 years ducking this promise. And he isn’t exactly giving straight answers on equalization today.

Again asked about equalization while campaigning in southern Ontario, Scheer said “unfortunately, (federal Finance Minister) Bill Morneau has locked us in” to the current formula. “I do believe there are some things we can achieve” with minor tinkering, he said.

This is again a non-answer from Scheer and unhelpful at a time when Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is threatening to hold a provincial referendum on the matter.

It’s just not acceptable, so maybe it’s time for Scheer to come home and answer some questions.

Mandryk is the political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post.