Rampant speculation that Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe would call an early election ended March 12 with a statement that he would not.
His decision came a day after he told reporters at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities annual convention that the Saskatchewan Party’s four-year mandate was up and he wanted to renew that mandate sooner rather than later.
The last general provincial election was April 4, 2015 and the next is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2020.
It also came the same day that the province announced its first presumptive case of COVID-19, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was self-isolating after his wife returned from a trip with flu-like symptoms, and sports leagues around the world suspended their seasons and cancelled events.
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In the agricultural world, stock shows and conferences have been cancelled. The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan cancelled its annual policy conference scheduled for next week.
The Saskatchewan budget is set to be released March 18. The government hasn’t yet announced whether it will limit guests to the event.
We will remain focused on providing a strong, stable government and addressing the health and economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I will not be calling a provincial election this spring.
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) March 12, 2020
“We will remain focused on providing a strong, stable government and addressing the health and economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Moe said in his statement.
A First Ministers’ meeting that Trudeau was to host Friday, March 13 to discuss several topics including COVID-19 has been cancelled in favour of a conference call.
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
