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Maybe it has something to do with all of the folks in the constituency who have university degrees, but Saskatoon Greystone has a knack for attracting well-educated and high profile candidates. Saskatoon Greystone first appeared in Saskatchewan politics for the 1991 provincial election, largely being carved out of the old Saskatoon University riding. In 1991, New Democrat MLA Peter Prebble was seeking re-election in the new riding, but he was defeated by Sask Liberal Leader Lynda Haverstock. Haverstock was originally planning to run in either Rosetown-Elrose or Kindersley in 1991, but somehow the federal Liberal dilletantes succeeded in encouraging her to run in Saskatoon Greystone instead. Their thinking was probably that when the time came to knife her in the back, they wouldn't have as far to travel to do the job if Haverstock was representing an urban constituency.
Haverstock was re-elected in Saskatoon Greystone in 1995, and after the disgusting way in which the dilletantes overthrew her as party leader, she remained as the Independent MLA for Saskatoon Greystone for the remainder of her term. In 1999 Haverstock did not seek re-election, and in 2000 she was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan. Haverstock was succeeded as the MLA for Saskatoon Greystone in 1999 by Prebble, who once Lorne Calvert became Premier in 2001, finally joined Executive Council. Prebble was Minister of the Public Service Commission, Corrections and Public Safety and the Office of Energy Conservation. Prebble is known as a champion of environmental issues, so he was a good fit for Energy Conservation.
Anyhow, Prebble didn't run for re-election in 2007, and Saskatoon Greystone was won by Rob Norris of the Saskatchewan Party. Norris had been a Liberal candidate in Saskatoon Eastview in 2003, but two days after Liberal Leader David Karwacki lost in the Weyburn-Big Muddy by-election in June 2006, Norris officially jumped to the Saskatchewan Party. Since being in government, Norris has become Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour. Later, Norris' duties were changed so that he is now the Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration, and he is also the Minister for SaskPower and the Minister for Innovation.
Norris is running for re-election on November 7, and Prebble has come out of retirement to face him. This is truly a Battle of the Titans, and one of the hottest contests in this provincial election. Simone Clayton is running for the Liberals and the Green candidate is Tammy McDonald. The trade union movement reviles Norris for passing controversial labour legislation since 2007, so they are focused on trying to defeat Norris. Norris won by 298 votes in 2007, and his ability to win or lose will depend in large part how much campaigning the Liberals are doing here, and if the momentum behind the Sask Party will lift Norris' boat come election day. Prebble should never be ruled out though; he is an effective campaigner, and is easily recognized in Saskatoon after a political career that spans five decades. On the other hand, Norris is also well-known in Saskatoon, and is touted as someone who could replace Brad Wall as Sask Party Leader some day. Look for a Norris win on November 7, though it might or might not be a slim victory.
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