REGINA — Rural Saskatchewan held steady in its support for Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party in yesterday’s provincial election, helping them secure a fifth majority government.
But that win came at a cost, as five cabinet ministers lost their seats in Regina and Saskatoon.
Other Saskatchewan Election 2024 coverage:
- Sask. election early results too close to call
- Sask. Party looks for fifth consecutive term
- Ag, rural issues are scarce in Sask. election campaign
- Leader hopes rural voters will see NDP option
- Candidates hit the hustings after writ drops in Sask.
- Agriculture, rural issues to be part of Sask. election debate
Unofficially, the party held 35 seats and the opposition NDP 26 as of Tuesday morning; 31 are required for a majority.
Read Also
Rich life took him from sky to ground
World War II veteran Burns Wood shares some memories of his time on the Alberta Sugar Beet Growers board as the organization celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025.
In addition to all the rural seats, the Sask. Party won both seats in Moose Jaw and Prince Albert, Saskatoon Willowgrove, where long-time MLA Ken Cheveldayoff was re-elected, and was hanging on in Saskatoon Westview.
The NDP, led by Carla Beck, took the other Saskatoon seats, swept Regina and both northern seats.
Ballot counting took until well after midnight and official results won’t be declared until Nov. 9.
However, Regina cabinet ministers Gene Makowsky, Laura Ross and Christine Tell all lost their seats. In Saskatoon, Bronwyn Eyre and Paul Merriman lost as well. Overall, the party lost seven seats.
Many veterans did not seek re-election this time, and Moe will face interesting cabinet choices from a rural caucus that must also govern in the cities.
He told supporters in his Shellbrook hometown he heard the message.
The NDP picked up 12 seats but had hoped for more. It finished second in all other ridings, unlike the last election when the Buffalo Party put a scare into the Sask. Party.
Saskatchewan United Party leader John Hromek, Green Party leader Naomi Hunter, Progressive Conservative leader Rose Buscholl and Buffalo Party leader Phillip Zajac all failed in their bids to be elected.
David Marit, who served as agriculture minister since 2018, was re-elected in his Wood River riding.
Nadine Wilson, running for Sask. United in Saskatchewan Rivers after being booted from the Sask. Party caucus for misrepresenting her COVID vaccination status, was not re-elected.
This election featured a new constituency map after boundaries were redrawn. That led to some incumbents, particularly in city and bedroom ridings, who had won with healthy majorities in previous elections running in ridings where their support wasn’t as strong.
Mailed-in ballots will be counted Wednesday, with the official count to follow.
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
