October 30, 2024 | Advertise with us

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Sask. United Party: What happened?

The Saskatchewan United Party has been the centre of much political discussion in Saskatchewan politics over the last two years, but on Monday night the party underperformed expectations.

Sask. United ran a total of 31 candidates across the province. Not one finished higher than third place in their constituency. A total of 27 candidates from the fledging party came in third in their respective races, while the remaining four candidates came in fourth place or lower. With 99.9% of polls reporting and mail-in ballots left to be counted, the Saskatchewan United Party received 17,658 votes or just 4.1% of the popular vote.

In party leader Jon Hromek’s seat of Lumsden-Morse, he received just 16% of the popular vote, finishing third, a disappointing result for the candidate that finished second in the infamous by-election last year. Long-time incumbent MLA Nadine Wilson received just 11% of the popular vote in the riding of Saskatchewan Rivers.

Without a voice in the legislature, or even a second-place finish in any rural seat, the Sask. United Party has appeared to fizzle out. Speaking to supporters, Hromek said, “We have changed this province. We saw it with Bill 137 and we saw it through this campaign with Scott Moe moving on safe female spaces. That was ours. Everyone knows that.”

SUP was not the only ‘third party’ to lose support in this election. The Buffalo Party completely collapsed, garnering 3,200 votes and <1% of the vote. The PC Party vote share was cut in half compared to the last election and received 1% of the vote. The Green Party lost supporters when compared to 2020 and received just <2% of the vote. The Progress Party (formerly the Liberal Party) gained support, but only won a handful of votes at <0.5% of the vote.

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Class of 2024: Meet the Rookie MLAs Elected on Monday

The Saskatchewan Legislature will welcome a whopping thirty (30) rookie MLAs this year after almost half of all MLAs were elected for the first time.

The Saskatchewan Party

The governing Saskatchewan Party will welcome many new faces into the fold. The party will welcome sixteen new MLAs, some of who may be selected for roles in Premier Scott Moe’s new cabinet.

• Darlene Rowden, Batoche

• Sean Wilson, Canora-Pelly

• Terri Bromm, Carrot River Valley

• James Thorsteinson, Cut Knife-Turtleford

• Barret Kropf, Dakota-Arm River

• Racquel Hilbert, Humboldt-Watrous

• Chris Beaudry, Kelvington-Wadena

• Kim Gartner, Kindersley-Biggar

• Jamie Martens, Martensville-Blairemore

• Megan Patterson, Moose Jaw Wakamow

• Kevin Weedmark, Moosomin-Montmartre

• Kevin Kasun, Prince Albert Carlton

• Eric Schmalz, Saskatchewan Rivers

• Michael Weger, Weyburn-Bengough

• Brad Crassweller, White City-Qu’Appelle

• David Chan, Yorkton

The NDP

The New Democrats started with a caucus of fourteen. In almost doubling their seat count, the party will welcome at least fourteen rookies, with votes to be counted in two more constituencies.

• Leroy Laliberte, Athabasca

• Jordan McPhail, Cumberland

• Jacqueline Roy, Regina Northeast

• Bahjan Brar, Regina Pasqua

• Joan Pratchler, Regina Rochdale

• Sally Housser, Regina University

• Brent Blakley, Regina Wascana Plains

• Don McBean, Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis

• Keith Jorgenson, Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood

• Kim Breckner, Saskatoon Riversdale

• Hugh Gordon, Saskatoon Silverspring

• Brittany Senger, Saskatoon Southeast

• Darcy Warrington, Saskatoon Stonebridge

• Tajinder Grewal, Saskatoon University Sutherland

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Some Races Remain Too Close To Call

The Saskatchewan NDP made massive pickups in Saskatoon and Regina Monday night, knocking off cabinet ministers and nearly sweeping the two cities.

Mail-in ballots will be added to the totals later today and more races will be decided after being too close to call on election night.

Saskatoon Westview

Incumbent Saskatchewan Party MLA David Buckingham was up by only 31 votes after the preliminary count on Monday. 291 mail ballots will be counted today. Buckingham was first elected in 2016 when he defeated then-NDP leader Cam Broten and was given the nickname ‘The Dragon Slayer.’ The NDP candidate April Chiefcalf is looking to win back an urban seat that has been consistently close multiple elections in a row and grow the NDP benches to 26 members. This race remains a toss-up.

Saskatoon Willowgrove

In what was considered one of the safest seats in Saskatoon, incumbent Saskatchewan Party MLA Ken Cheveldayoff awaits the results of the vote by mail ballots today. He is ahead by 255 votes, with at least 660 vote-by-mail ballots to be counted. NDP Candidate Alana Wakula is looking to upset the Sask. Party and defeat the now longest-serving Sask. Party MLA. This race is too close to call but leans towards Cheveldayoff.

Prince Albert Northcote

This riding is consistently one of the closest races in the province. Incumbent Saskatchewan Party MLA Alana Ross is ahead by 125 votes with 197 mail-in votes to be counted. Ross is projected to hold the riding against former NDP MLA Nicole Rancourt.

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Tribal Chief Arcand calls for transparency at FSIN with election to be held this week

Tribal Chief Mark Arcand, head of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, is calling on the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) to be more transparent in how it handles its finances. The call comes just days before polls open in the election.

Indigenous Services Canada is currently conducting a forensic audit of the federation, examining the period from April 1, 2019, to March 15, 2024 after allegations around the potential misuse of public funds.

Arcand also claimed that members of the treasury board spent $40,000 on a four-day trip to Las Vegas for a meeting. He said those who went on the trip only met for five hours in total. “This is a situation we have to clear up. We have to be accountable and transparent, just like any other board out there. This is an advocacy organization that has to show true accountability, leadership and true transparency,” Arcand explained.

“A lot of the grassroots people don’t know this, and they need to know this,” the tribal chief said. “At the end of the day, it’s about full transparency because this is Canada’s money, it’s First Nations money, and if we aren’t transparent with it we’ve got to be holding people accountable.”

Arcand said his calls for greater transparency aren’t an attack against anyone. He has publically endorsed Aly Bear in the upcoming election. Bear is challenging incumbent Chief Bobby Cameron. Cameron has endured controversy of his own during this campaign.

FSIN voting day is Thursday at the annual General Assembly in Saskatoon.

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Blanchet begins talks to topple Liberal government

Two federal parties now want a federal election. Bloc Quebecois leader Yves Francois Blanchet says he is now starting talks to topple the government. The Conservatives also want an election.

Blanchet set the deadline last month, putting the Liberals on notice that to avoid an election "before Christmas" they must adopt a pair of private member's bills. One of the Bloc bills, aimed at safeguarding supply management in trade negotiations, has the support of the government and is being studied by the Senate. The other, which would raise old age security payments for seniors under 75, is one the Liberals say they do not support. The measure would cost an estimated $16 billion over five years.

Blanchet said his discussions with the other opposition parties have started, and the government is in serious danger of falling. He suggested the Bloc would support a motion that simply states the House does not have confidence in the government, which is exactly what the Conservatives put forward in September.

There will be the opportunity for non-confidence motions in the coming weeks before MPs break for Christmas. It will be up to the NDP whether or not a federal election will be called this fall.

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More news and info

• Incumbent fatigue and fizzling culture wars: Strategists find lessons for Poilievre in provincial elections (The National Post)

• 🏠 7 in 10 Saskatchewan voters think housing should be a top priority for elected officials. That is why Saskatchewan’s Housing Leaders have launched Secure Homes, Strong Future­ – a housing policy blueprint for Saskatchewan ahead of the 2024 provincial election. Built on grassroots consultation and expert insight, this plan provides common sense ideas that will improve affordability, unlock development, lower construction costs and build more homes faster. Click here to learn more.*

• B.C. lieutenant-governor asks NDP Leader David Eby to form government (CBC)

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