Constituency Profile: Carrot River Valley

Carrot River Valley constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

For more information on Carrot River Valley constituency, please click on this link.

Carrot River Valley constituency came into being for the 1995 provincial election. It is a merger of most of the old Nipawin and Kelsey-Tisdale ridings. The first MLA for Carrot River Valley was New Democrat Andy Renaud, a realtor from Tisdale who was the MLA for Kelsey-Tisdale from 1991 to 1995. Keley-Tisdale had a long history of electing CCF/NDP MLAs, and Renaud caught the tail end of that tradition. Renaud captured 43 percent of the vote in 1995, but in 1999 he slipped to 39 percent and Carl Kwiatkowski of the Sask Party roared to victory here with 50 percent of the vote. Kwiatkowski had a promising political career but died suddenly early in 2003. In the subsequent by-election, former Reform MP Allan Kerpan won Carrot River Valley for the Sask Party again with 48 percent of the vote. Kerpan was narrowly re-elected in the 2003 election with 46 percent of the vote, compared to 41 percent for New Democrat Mark Pitzel. But Kerpan stepped aside for 2007 and Fred Bradshaw, a pilot from Carrot River, kept this seat for the SP with 61 percent of the vote.

Bradshaw is seeking a second term on November 7. Given that there will be no Liberal candidate in Carrot River Valley this time and the current momentum in Saskatchewan politics, it would not be beyond the pale for Bradshaw to win again with 65 to 70 percent of the vote. History will also be made in this election with the first Green candidate to appear on the ballot in Carrot River Valley.

First public opinion polling of the campaign

You can read about the results here. It's official then. Both polls confirm that the Sask Party has cracked the 60 percent level of support. This puts the Sask Party in the running for over 51 seats across the province, NDP zero to 7. A lot will depend now on the momentum of the Sask Party, and the traditional ability of the NDP to mobilize their voters on November 7.

Your feedback on the polling is most welcome.

Your thoughts on the provincial election campaign

What are your thoughts on the provincial election campaign so far? Do you find the election exciting? boring? We want to know!

Housing is a big issue in this election campaign

This is not a surprise. I saw this coming from a mile away, as the old saying goes. The upward pressure on rent and the cost of living is terrifically strong, and shows no sign of weakening. I'll be curious to see how this issue plays out on 7 November.

Leaders Debate

Did you watch the Leaders Debeate on TV tonight? Why or why not?

Sask Greens release election platform

And there you have it. The Greens, under the leadership of Victor Lau, have really been whipping things up in this election. Who knows - maybe we'll be hearing more from him in the days ahead? Stranger things have happened.

Sask. Liberals blast the Sask Party, Sask NDP for spending promises

The one party that wants to curb public spending isn't running candidates in most of the province. What does that say about where Saskatchewan politics is headed?

Constituency Profile: Melfort

Melfort constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

For more information on the Melfort constituency, please click here.

The modern version of the Melfort constituency has been around since the 1971 general election. The MLA elected that year was Arthur Thibault of the NDP. Thibault was first elected with the CCF in a 1959 by-election in Kinistino, where Premier Douglas first unveiled his plans for a medicare scheme. Thibault retired in 1975 and was replaced by Norman Vickar. Vickar would serve in the Blakeney Government as the Minister of Industry and Commerce, and is the only person of the Jewish faith to have ever served as a Saskatchewan cabinet minister. In 1982 Vickar was defeated in the "Monday Night Massacre" that swept the NDP from office and replaced it with the Devine Conservatives. The new MLA was Grant Hodgins, a local auctioneer. Hodgins would become a big player in the Devine Government, serving as Government House Leader and Minister of Highways and Transportation. Early in 1991 Hodgins abruptly quit the PC caucus and sat as an independent, having expressed his disgust over the Fair Share Saskatchewan controversy. Hodgins did not seek re-election in 1991 and was replaced by Melfort Mayor Carol Carson. Carson served in Roy Romanow's 'war cabinet' as Minister of the Environment and Public Safety. But Carson was defeated in 1991, ending the NDP's long dominance in the riding. Carson was defeated by Liberal candidate Rod Gantefoer, a Melfort businessman. Gantefoer was part of the Liberal caucus revolt that overthrew Lynda Haverstock as party leader, and in 1997 Gantefoer was one of the founding MLAs of the Saskatchewan Party. Rod sought the Sask Party leadership in 1998 but was runner-up to Elwin Hermanson. Gantefoer was easily re-elected in 1999, 2003 and 2007. When the Sask Party came to power, Gantefoer was made Minister of Finance. Gantefoer announced in February of last year that unfortunately he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and he is not seeking re-election. The Sask Party has nominated Melfort Mayor Kevin Phillips to run in this election. Gantefoer was easy re-elected in 2007 with 65 percent of the vote. Without a Liberal candidate this time and the Sask Party's strong momentum in this election, it is not beyond that pale that Phillips could win here with well over 70 percent of the vote.

Constituency Profile: Arm River-Watrous

Arm River-Watrous constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

For more information about Arm River-Watrous constituency, please click on this link.

Arm River-Watrous was first contested in 2003, after the merging of the former Arm River and Watrous constituencies. The only MLA for this constituency has been Greg Brkich of the Saskatchewan Party. Brkich was first elected in Arm River in 1999, and is seeking re-election on November 7.

The composition of this constituency is very interesting. The Arm River portion of the riding has a strong anti-NDP tradition, which pockets of NDP strength remain in the Watrous portion of the seat. Brkich was re-elected in 2007 with 58 percent of the vote, compared to 29 percent for the NDP. But without a Liberal candidate in Arm River-Watrous this time and given the huge momentum behind the Sask Party, Brkich is likely to win this time with 65 to 70 percent of the vote.

Constituency Profile: Last Mountain-Touchwood

Last Mountain-Touchwood constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

For more information on the Last Mountain-Touchwood constituency, please click on this link.

The Last Mountain-Touchwood constituency was considered a bellwether riding in Saskatchewan politics until recently, and remains one of the most politically active regions in rural Saskatchewan. This constituency was formed in 1975 from the merger of the old Last Mountain and Touchwood constituencies. This seat now stretches from the eastern shore of Last Mountain lake to the western outskirts of Melville.

Important figures from the former Last Mountain constituency include Liberal MLA Sam Latta and Russ Brown with the CCF. Notable MLAs from Touchwood include Tom Johnston of the CCF and Liberal George Trapp.

The first MLA for Last Mountain-Touchwood was elected in the historic 1975 provincial election. Gordon MacMurchy of the NDP was actually first elected in Last Mountain in 1971. In 1975 he cruised to an easy victory. MacMurchy served in cabinet for the full 11 years that the Blakeney New Democrats were in power, including the powerful post of Minister of Agriculture. MacMurchy was re-elected in 1978 but lost in 1982 during the "Monday Night Massacre" along with most of his New Democrat colleagues. The new MLA in 1982 was Progressive Conservative Arnold Tusa of Cupar. Tusa became Speaker of the Legislature in 1986. It should be noted here that a good many past MLAs for this constituency have served as Speaker. Tusa was defeated in 1991 by New Democrat Dale Flavel of Silton. Flavel was re-elected in 1995 but lost in 1999 when the NDP base in Rural Saskatchewan collapsed. Flavel was defeated by Saskatchewan Party candidate Glen Hart of Cupar. Hart's re-election in 2003 ended Last Mountain-Touchwood's reputation as a bellwether constituency. Hart was easily re-elected in 2007 and in spite of a stiff challenge to his nomination, Hart is back in this election and is seeking re-election.

In 2007, Hart won with 60 percent of the vote compared to 31 percent for the NDP candidate. Without a Liberal candidate in Last Mountain-Touchwood this time, and given the momentum behind the Sask Party, it is very likely that Hart will be re-elected on November 7, perhaps in the neighbourhood of 65 to 70 percent of the vote.