Former Regina New Democrat MP Simon de Jong has also passed away. De Jong was the MP for Regina East and Regina QuAppelle from 1979 to 1997.
But de Jong has 2 claims to fame in addition to his having been an MP. de Jong survived the 1993 by defeating his Liberal opponent by less than 1,000 votes. It is the way de Jong won that was interesting. The Liberals won all of the Regina polls in Regina QuAppelle, while the Reform Party won all of the rural polls. But de Jong finished second in every poll - and won enough votes that way to get re-elected.
In 1989, de Jong ran in the federal NDP leadership race and finished 4th. de Jong wore a microphone during the convention, including during a meeting with Dave Barrett, who was runner-up to the winner Audrey McLaughlin. de Jong's comments with Barrett and with his mother in Dutch were used by the CBC in a documentary about that convention.
Sask Politics 1 extends deepest condolences to the family and friends of de Jong at this time.
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