Constituency Profile: Regina Rosemont

Regina Rosemont constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

For more information on Regina Rosemont, please click here.

Regina Rosemont is a fairly typical NDP seat in west-central Regina. The overwhelming majority of the demographics here is made up of older, white, working class folks. This voters tend to be unionized but are also church going folks and hold traditional social values. In the Saskatchewan NDP lexicon, you couldn't find a more ideal seat.

The first MLA for Regina Rosemont was elected in the 1975 provincial election. Bill Allen was re-elected easily in 1978 but lost in 1982 in the "Monday Night Massacre." The new MLA at that time was Gordon Dirks, a Progressive Conservative. Dirks had been on Regina City Council before winning in Regina Rosemont, and served in the Devine Cabinet as Minister of Social Services. But Dirks was easily defeated in 1986 by Bob Lyons of the NDP. Lyons was re-elected easily in 1991. He didn't run for re-election in 1995. From 1995 to 2003, Regina Rosemont was split between the Regina Sherwood and Regina Elphinstone constituencies. In 2003, Regina Rosemont is restored, and veteran NDP MLA and Cabinet Minister Joanne Crofford is elected here. Crofford was first elected in 1991 in Regina Lake Centre and in 1995 and in 1999 in Regina Centre. Crofford retired in 2003 and after some controversy and two separate nomination meetings, Trent Wotherspoon emerged as the NDP candidate and new MLA for Regina Rosemont in 2007.

Upon the election of Dwain Lingenfelter as NDP Leader in 2009, Wotherspoon was named NDP Finance critic. This posting has allowed Trent to maintain a high profile as an opposition MLA. And as anyone who has driven through west Regina over the past 4 years can attest to, Wotherspoon has invested a great deal of time and money on buying billboard space across his constituency. In this general election campaign, the Wotherspoon campaign has succeeded in putting up thousands of lawn signs across the constituency, which is a testament to Trent's personal popularity among his voters. To be sure, Wotherspoon's Sask Party adversary Tony Fiacco, the brother of Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco, also has a large number of lawn signs up across Regina Rosemont. But if I had to pick one seat that I was absolutely sure the NDP will keep in the November 7th election, my instincts tell me it will be Regina Rosemont. If Lingenfelter resigns as Sask NDP Leader shortly following this provincial election, there is also a great deal of speculation that Wotherspoon will be a candidate in the NDP leadership race.