The uncertainty over last fall’s election result in the Saskatchewan constituency of Wood River has ended.
Glen McPherson, who was declared the winner by one vote over Saskat-chewan Party candidate Yogi Huyghebaert in January, resigned the seat May 15 rather than fight a court challenge of his victory.
In a statement, the Liberal MLA said he had received no support from the Liberal caucus or the Saskatchewan Liberal Association in dealing with the legalities that arose after the Sept. 16 election.
He said he was not financially able to pursue the matter.
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“For this reason, and because I am of the view that there probably were sufficient irregularities in the election to overcome the one-vote margin of victory which was found in the last court ruling, I have decided to discontinue my participation in the court challenge,” he said. “I also want to announce that I will not be seeking the Liberal nomination for the byelection.”
McPherson said he could not run as a Liberal who would have to support the NDP-Liberal coalition government.
He said he gave the coalition a reasonable opportunity to show its commitment to honor Liberal campaign promises.
“To date, I see no evidence that any of the Liberal platform commitments have even been considered by the coalition,” he said.
But Liberal leader and education minister Jim Melenchuk said his party has influenced many government policies.
First elected as a New Democrat in 1991, McPherson crossed the floor in 1993 to join then-Liberal leader Lynda Haverstock to protest the government’s health reform and hospital closures. Just months after the 1995 election, he and the other Liberal caucus members ousted Haverstock as party leader.
In the 1999 election, Huyghebaert was first thought to be the winner by 11 votes. But about 50 mail-in ballots had not yet been counted. When they were, the two candidates were tied. The returning officer cast a single vote in favor of McPherson and a judicial recount followed.
In January, a Queen’s Bench justice declared McPherson the winner, but noted there were voting irregularities over which he had no jurisdiction. The Saskatchewan Party alleged people from outside the constituency had voted in Wood River. The party challenged the result under election legislation.
McPherson resigned the same day the matter was to be in court.
The byelection must be called within six months.
Speculation is rife that the coalition government will run a single candidate against the Saskatchewan Party. But deputy premier Dwain Lingenfelter has said the NDP would likely run its own candidate.
In the Saskatchewan Legislature, the NDP holds 29 seats, the Saskat-chewan Party, 26, and the Liberals three – the balance of power in a minority government.
