Saskatchewan Party wins fourth straight majority

It’s four on the floor for the Saskatchewan Party.

The Sask. Party won its fourth straight majority government in Monday’s provincial election, becoming just the fourth party in the history of Saskatchewan to serve four consecutive terms.

As of Tuesday at 9 a.m., Scott Moe’s party was leading or elected in 50 of the province’s 61 ridings. The NDP was leading or elected in 11 constituencies.

The Sask. Party has been in power since 2007, making it the longest-serving provincial government currently in Canada.

Moe, in his first election as the Sask. Party’s leader, pointed to the province’s economic recovery from COVID-19 as a key factor in the party’s victory.

“The ballot question this election was, ‘Who do you trust to lead Saskatchewan’s economic recovery? Who do you trust to ensure that Saskatchewan continues to recover, continues to move forward and continues to grow?’ ” Moe said in his victory speech. “That was the question and this evening we got the answer, and we got the answer loud and clear.

“It is a great honour and it is a tremendous responsibility to know that Saskatchewan voters answered that question by saying, ‘We trust the Saskatchewan Party.’ ”

Moe recalled the goal set out for the party by then-leader Brad Wall after the Sask. Party was formed. Moe said Wall wanted party members to do their best to earn the trust of the province’s residents and leave things better than the way they were found.

“Though we have been imperfect like many governments before us, we have tried to live up to that goal during the course of the last 13 years and it will remain our guiding principle over the course of the next four,” Moe said. “A government earns that trust by doing what we say we’re going to do, by keeping our promises.”

In this campaign, Moe’s promises included a SaskPower rebate, a home improvement tax credit, a tax reduction for small businesses, funding for children living with autism up to the age of 12, and reducing seniors’ ambulance costs.

As well, Moe said his party, if elected, would balance the budget by 2024.

In his victory speech, Moe said his party would govern for everyone in the province no matter who they supported in the election. He also took a swipe at the federal government, saying the Sask. Party has stood up to Justin Trudeau’s Liberals on the carbon tax and on bills that limit pipelines and tankers.

“We have been given a strong mandate this evening,” Moe said. “You have reposed your trust and your confidence in us.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us; that begins tonight. Together, we can lead a strong recovery. We can build a strong economy, strong communities (and) strong families and we can build a strong, growing and vibrant Saskatchewan.”

The Sask. Party held 46 seats when the legislature was dissolved, with the NDP at 13. There also were two vacant seats.

It became obvious soon after the polls closed Monday that the Sask. Party was on its way to a majority, with Moe and nearly all of his cabinet ministers cruising to early victories.

Late in the evening, with the outcome long decided, NDP Leader Ryan Meili lost his lead in Saskatoon Meewasin. By 11:30 p.m., he was trailing Rylund Hunter of the Sask. Party.

Like Moe, Meili was leading his party in a provincial election for the first time. He was elected as the party’s leader in March of 2018 following the resignation of Cam Broten.

Like Broten before him, Meili was forced to call the Sask. Party leader to concede.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili delivers his concession speech on Oct. 26, 2020, as his wife, Mahli Brindamour, listens on. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

“I offered (Moe) — as we are both in service of the people of Saskatchewan — where we can agree (and) where we can work together, I’m always here,” Meili said. “And where we disagree, he knows well that I will be straight with him and the people of Saskatchewan about those different visions.”

Meili said he and the NDP’s candidates had heard the frustration from voters during the campaign, but that didn’t lead to enough support at the polls. Even so, Meili urged the party’s supporters to stay committed to its cause.

“My message tonight is for those who voted for change because there are thousands upon thousands of people across Saskatchewan who voted for change tonight,” he said. “I want to tell you: This is not the end, this is the beginning. Do not give up because, in Saskatchewan, we can do so much better than what we’ve seen. This is our home and we can do the work to make it better.

“Yes, we’re going to be in opposition and I believe it’s going to be the strongest opposition this province has seen in years and we will fight for you.”

The Sask. Party and NDP were joined in the campaign by the Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan, the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Green Party and the Saskatchewan Liberal Party. There also were a number of candidates running as independents.

None of those parties won a seat, but the Buffalo Party — formerly the Wexit Party — finished a strong second in the Cannington, Cypress Hills, Estevan and Kindersley ridings.

As of 11:30 p.m., the Saskatchewan Party had earned 63.4 per cent of the popular vote, followed by the NDP (28.6), the Buffalo Party (3.0), the Green Party (2.4) and the Progressive Conservatives (2.1). Independents had 0.3 per cent of the vote, with the Liberals at 0.1 per cent.