Constituency Profile: Regina Qu'Appelle Valley

Regina Qu'Appelle Valley constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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The electoral history of Regina Qu'Appelle Valley constituency is the only one of the Regina seats with its history going back to 1905. The Lumsden constituency was first won by the Liberals in 1905, and the first MLA was Premier Walter Scott (who by 1908 switched to Swift Current constituency). In 1908, Frederick Tate of the Provincial Rights Party won Lumsden and was re-elected in 1912. In 1917 William Vancise won back Lumsden for the Liberals and was re-elected in Lumsden in 1921. Hugh Kerr Miller won for the Liberals in 1925 but in 1929 Lumsden fell to James Bryant of the Conservative Party. Prior to winning, Bryant was President of the Saskatchewan School Trustees and Chair of the Regina Public School Board. He served briefly as Speaker in 1929, and went on to hold cabinet positions in the infamous Anderson Government, including Public Works, and Telephones and Telegraphs. Like every other member of the Anderson Government, Bryant was defeated in 1934. The Liberals won back Lumsden with Henry Mang as their candidate. Mang was from Edenwold and was educated at the University of Toronto. Mang served one term as an MLA, then was elected as a Liberal MP for one term in 1953 before being defeated by Alvin Hamilton. Robert Donaldson was elected as a Liberal for one term in 1938 and then the politics of this riding underwent a sea change.

In 1944, the CCF won Lumsden with William Thair as the MLA. Thair was re-elected in 1948, but in 1952 the CCF won Lumsden again with Cliff Thurston. Thurston was re-elected in 1956 and 1960, but lost in 196r when Ross Thatcher and the Liberals rolled into power. The winner in 1964 was Liberal candidate Darrel Heald, a lawyer who became Justice Minister in the Thatcher Government. Heald was re-elected in 1967 but retired in 1971, and was replaced by fellow Liberal Gary Lane. Lane worked for Ross Thatcher at the Legislature prior to being elected as an MLA. Lane was re-elected in 1975, and briefly considered running in the 1976 Liberal leadership race to replace Davey Steuart. But instead of running in the leadership, he could see that the federal Liberal dilletantes were already destroying the Sask Liberal Party from within, and it would be hopeless to make progress with them, so instead he switched to the PC Party. It was an event that helped fuel the rise of the PC Party of Saskatchewan, and the fall of the Sask Liberals. Lane went on to easy re-election as a Tory in 1978, and again in 1982 and 1986 before retiring in 1991. Lane was a powerful minister in the Devine Government, serving first as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, then later as Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan. It was Lane who oversaw the privatization of PCS in 1989. Lane was appointed to the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in 1991.

In 1991 Lane was replaced as the MLA for Qu'Appelle-Lumsden by Suzanne Murray of the NDP. Murray was re-elected in 1995 in the newly redrawn constituency of Regina Qu'Appelle Valley, beating Regina North West MLA Anita Bergman. Murray didn't run again in 1999, and was replaced by fellow New Democrat Mark Wartman, a United Church Minister. Wartman served as Minister of Agriculture in the Calvert Government. Wartman was re-elected in 2003 but lost in a close contest with Laura Ross of the Saskatchewan Party in 2007 by 204 votes. Ross, a realtor joined the Wall Cabinet in 2010 as Minister of Government Services.

Ross is running for re-election on November 7. Her NDP opponent this time is Steve Ryan, who ran for the New Democrats in Wood River in 2007. Ryan is the brother of Jon Ryan, punter for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, and is the brother-in-law of Regina Qu'Appelle Conservative MP Andrew Scheer. The Green candidate is Billy Patterson, an environmental activist and past federal Green candidate. Also, Hafeez Chaudhuri, an Independent, is running here this time. There is no Liberal candidate in Regina Qu'Appelle Valley this time; in 2007, Mike Huber got 15 percent of the vote for the Liberals here. Ross won about 43 percent of the vote in RQV last time, so add the 15 percent won by the Liberals, and that puts the Sask Party at almost 60 percent support in the seat. Then given the provincial momentum behind the Sask Party, Ross may very well win over 60 percent of the vote here on Monday.

Constituency Profile: Regina Wascana Plains

Regina Wascana Plains constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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The constituency now called Regina Wascana Plains (since 1991) was first contested in 1967 as Regina South East, which was the first provincial election where the cities elected MLAs to multiple constituencies. The winning MLA in that election was Henry Baker of the NDP. Baker was first elected as a CCF MLA in 1964,and he would go on to be re-elected in 1971 in Regina South East, and 1975 and 1978 in Regina Victoria riding. Baker was also Mayor of Regina at the same time; in fact he was Mayor of Regina from 1955 to 1970 and from 1973 to 1976. However Baker never served in the Blakeney cabinet, and apparently he was not allowed to attend NDP caucus meetings either. In 1975, famous lawyer Tony Merchant was elected for the Liberals in this seat. In 1976 Tony unsuccessfully sought the Sask Liberal Leadership, and tried to become an MP 1979, 1980 and 1997, all unsuccesfully. Today Tony's wife is Senator Pana Merchant, and Merchant himself has built up his law practice into a national business of sorts. His most famous clients are the victims of the Indian Residential Schools. Merchant did not run for re-election in 1978, and the seat passed for one term to Clinton White of the NDP. In 1982, the Tories won Regina Wascana Plains, with Gord Currie being the successful MLA. Currie was coach of the Regina Rams and held several cabinet portfolios in the Devine Government, including Advanced Education and Manpower, Continuing Education, Education, Science and Technology, and Telephones. But Currie was dropped from cabinet in 1985 when Devine trimmed cabinet from 23 to 19, and Gord didn't seek re-election in 1986. The PCs hung onto to this seat by their fingernails in 1986, by a 55 vote margin. Beattie Martin held this seat for the PCs. Martin had been a Liberal before 1986, and was the nephew of former Saskatchewan Liberal Premier William Martin. But the former CBC sportscaster was recruited by the Tories, and he made the leap and won as an MLA. Martin was defeated in 1991 by City Councillor and former interim Mayor of Regina, Doreen Hamilton of the NDP, and later Martin was charged and convicted in the Tory Fraud Scandal.

Doreen Hamilton became the first MLA for the riding since Henry Baker to serve more than one term in the Legislature. it was many years before the former teacher was elevated into the Romanow cabinet, 1998 to be exact. Hamilton held several different portfolios in the NDP Government including Liquor and Gaming, SPMC, and the Public Service Commission. Hamilton rolled in with a landslide in Regina Wascana Plains in 1991, but in each of her subsequent victories in 1995, 1999 and 2003, the races were fairly close, In 1999, Hamilton only beat Dan Thibault of the Sask Party by 119 votes; the result was not predicted in advance and caught most political observers at the time by surprise.

Hamilton retired from politics in 2007, and Regina police officer Christine Tell won this seat handily for the Saskatchewan Party. Tell's margin of victory was by almost 2,400 votes, or 21 percentage points. From 2007 to 2009, Tell served as Minister of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, Government Services, and the Sask Liquor and Gaming Authority.

In 2007, the Liberal candidate in Regina Wascana Plains won almost 15 percent of the vote. This time there is no Liberal in the race, so add that 14 percent to the 53 percent of the vote won by Tell in 2007, and Tell looks like a shoo-in for re-election on November with almost 70 percent of the vote. This does not include any momentum headed Tell's way from the provincial Sask Party campaign, so Tell may very well win on Monday with over 70 percent of the vote. The NDP candidate is Pat Maze, Bill Clary is running for the Greens, and the PCs are actually fielding a candidate this time; Roy Gaebel, who ran for the PCs in Regina in the past, is the Tory name on the ballot.

Constituency Profile: Regina Coronation Park

Regina Coronation Park constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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Regina Coronation Park is the seat in north Regina. Northgate Mall is the heart of the constituency. It ranges from working to middle class, with neatly maintained homes and quiet neighbourhoods.

There have been a variety of constituencies in north Regina since 1978, all with different and changing names. Regina Coronation Park. Regina Coronation Park first appeared on the Saskatchewan political landscape for 1995. The winning MLA that time, and in every election since up to 2007, was Kim Trew of the NDP. Trew was first elected as an MLA in 1986 in the old Regina North seat, after the PCs won it in 1982 from New Democrat Stan Oxelgren. The seat was vacant in 1986, after Jack Klein switched to Regina South and won there for the Tories. Trew won a five-way nomination in 1986 to become the NDP candidate, and he never faced any serious opposition for the remainder of his political career. However, the Sask Party is slowly closing the gap in the NDP in this seat. The Sask Party won 24 percent of the vote in Regina Coronation Park in 2003 and 32 percent in 2007, and actually won a poll for the first time, the one that includes Merlin Crescent.

After a political career that spans 25 years, Kim Trew has retired as an MLA (and a brief stint as Minister of Labour in 2001). After another 5-way donnybrook of a nomination battle, Jaime Garcia came out on top after the 3rd ballot, and is the new NDP standard bearer in the riding. Jaime has been campaigning hard for months and is doing lots of marketing leading up to the vote. But Mark Docherty of the Sask Party is no slouch either, the Sask Party has provincewide momentum. However, the NDP has a large base in Regina Coronration Park. There will be no Liberal candidate in the riding this time (the Liberals won 9 percent in Regina Coronation Park last time), which will automatically bring the Sask Party up to 41 percent in the seat, the SP may not be able to close the gap here before election day. Conventional wisdom favours the NDP to hold Regina Coronation Park, though the margin of victory may be a lot closer than anyone could have imagined previously. 

Constituency Profile: Regina Elphinstone-Centre

Regina Elphinstone-Centre constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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When one sets foot in north-central Regina, they are setting foot on NDP holy ground. It is the mighty fortress known in the past as Regina Elphinstone, and today is called Regina Elphinstone-Centre. It is the mightiest electoral stronghold of the Saskatchewan NDP. It is almost legendary in status and mythical in quality, because the seat has had an unbroken string of CCF/NDP MLAs since 1944, and the winning plurality for the NDP in this seat is usually very large, rarely under 60 percent of the vote. In the "Monday Night Massacre" election in which the Saskatchewan NDP were reduced to 8 seats in the Legislature, Regina Elphinstone was among the 8. The most famous former MLA for this constituency is the late Allan Blakeney, Premier of Saskatchewan from 1971 to 1982 and Rhodes Scholar, who passed away this past spring.
The former Regina Centre constituency is also another Saskatchewan NDP fortress, having also remained in the NDP column in 1982. In 2003 Regina Elphinstone and Regina Centre were fused together to form Regina Elphinstone-Centre. The only MLA to date for this riding is Warren McCall, who was first elected in Regina Elphinstone in February 2001, after the previous MLA, former Deputy Premier Dwain Lingenfelter resigned to pursue opportunities elsewhere. McCall was easily re-elected in 2003 with 66 percent of the vote and 62 percent in 2007. McCall was a cabinet minister in the Calvert Government, holding the portfolios of Advanced Education and Employment, and Corrections and Public Safety. In opposition, Warren has critic duties for Crown Corporations, First Nations and Metis Relations, and Provincial Secretary.

McCall is being challenged this time by Bill Stevenson of the Saskatchewan Party, and Ingrid Alesich of the Green Party. Alesich also ran for the Greens in this riding in 2007 and got 5 percent of the vote. There will be no Liberal this time in Regina Elphinstone-Centre, which will probably do little to affect the outcome in this constituency. Stevenson has been campaigning hard for several months, and with the strong momentum behind the Sask Party provincewide, it is likely that Stevenson will considerably close the gap with McCall on November 7th. However Warren is no pushover. He has solid roots in Regina Elphinstone-Centre, being the third generation of his family to live and work in the constituency. Today one can still drive by his grandmother's former home in the middle of the riding on Elphinstone Street, a modest, unassuming home painted in white. Warren has also worked hard over the past decade as the MLA for this area, having been voted "Best Regina MLA" in the prairie dog. McCall is also the holder of the social gospel tradition for the Saskatchewan NDP; it is difficult to imagine this flame being snuffed out on November 7th. Although McCall's victory may not be as spectacular as in past elections, we should still expect to see him in the winner's circle this time.

Constituency Profile: Regina Rosemont

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

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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.

Final Polling Results: I told you so

I told you so. I predicted that as what remained of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party's voting base imploded in this election, that it would find its way into the Sask Party's column. And the Greens are now the third party, with over 5 percent of the vote. Most ominous for the New Democrats is that their polling numbers haven't budged.

Ask not for whom the bell tolls this Monday. If these polling results carry over into Monday's vote, then we will witness a political tsunami roll over the province, crushing many New Democrat MLAs in its path. This is going to be one humdinger of an election, and I think we'll be talking about the election results for decades to come. We may be on the verge of a new era in Saskatchewan politics. I am as fascinated as you are to see the coming election results.

Constituency Profile: Moose Jaw North

Moose Jaw North constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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Moose Jaw North first came into the Saskatchewan political lexicon in 1967. It was the first election where the cities of Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert used multiple seats to elect MLAs instead of the two-seat electoral system. The first MLA for Moose Jaw North was Gordon Snyder of the NDP. Snyder was first elected in Moose Jaw in 1960 and was re-elected in 1964, 1967, 1971, 1975 and 1978. In the 1970s, Snyder served as Minister of Labour in the Blakeney Government. Snyder was defeated in the "Monday Night Massacre" election of 1982, and he subsequently retired from politics. In 1971, Snyder moved to Moose Jaw Wakamow riding, and Donald McDonald of the Liberals won Moose Jaw North. McDonald didn't run for re-election in 1975, and New Democrat John Skoberg won the seat back for the NDP. Skoberg had been the New Democrat MP for Moose Jaw from 1978 to 1982. Skoberg was returned to the Legislature in 1978 but retired in 1982. The seat was picked up by Keith Parker of the PC Party. But Parker lost in 1986 to New Democrat Glenn Hagel.

Hagel had a lively career as an MLA. He was Speaker of the Legislature from 1996 to 1999, and then joined cabinet in 2001. Hagel held several different portfolios, including Post Secondary Education, Social Services, Gaming, Community Resources and Employment, Provincial Secretary, and Culture, Youth and Recreation. Hagel was re-elected in 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003. In 2007 Hagel was defeated by Warren Michelson of the Saskatchewan Party by exactly 33 votes. Part of Hagel's defeat may be the result of an alleged  controversy over NDP caucus funds when Hagel was Caucus Chair. Hagel was never charged by police. Today Hagel is Mayor of Moose Jaw, so he has enjoyed a political comeback.

Michelson is running for re-election on November 7th. His opponents include Derek Hassen of the NDP, Corrine Johnson of the Green Party, and PC Party Leader Rick Swenson. Swenson was the MLA for Thunder Creek from 1985 to 1995 and held several cabinet portfolios in the Devine Government. Swenson was also interim PC Leader from 1992 to 1994. Swenson became PC Leader in 2006 after the party came out of self-imposed hibernation for 2 provincial elections after the formation of the Saskatchewan Party. Swenson ran in Thunder Creek in 2007 but finished fourth with 3.42 percent of the vote. Swenson and the PC Party is before the courts with the Sask Party over access to the PC Trust Fund. The trust fund was established by the PCs before the party was placed in hibernation. The trust fund contains an estimated $3-million.

Constituency Profile: Prince Albert Carlton

Prince Albert Carlton constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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Prince Albert Carlton first appeared on Saskatchewan political maps in the 1991 provincial election, having been carved out of the old Prince Albert constituency. The first MLA for Prince Albert Carlton was New Democrat Myron Kowalsky, who was first elected in 1986 in the old Prince Albert constituency. Kowalsky was easily re-elected in 1991, 1995, 1999, and in 2003. Kowalsky became Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature in 2001 and remained in the post until his retirement in 2007. The 2007 election saw Prince Albert police officer Darryl Hickie win Prince Albert Carlton for the Saskatchewan Party by a razor-thin 61 vote margin. Since his win in 2007, Hickie has been a cabinet minister in the Wall Government. Hickie was initially Minister of Corrections and Public Safety.

Hickie is running for re-election on November 7, and his main opponent is New Democrat candidate Ted Zurakowski, a teacher. The NDP hope to pick up this seat on Monday, but without a Liberal candidate in the race, that will be a tall order. In 2007 the Liberal candidate in Prince Albert Carlton got 370 votes or 4.77 percent of the vote. If all of those people are voting this time, most if not all of them will be voting Sask Party this time. And if one considers the strong momentum behind the Sask Party in this election, it could be that Dickie wins again by a plurality of several hundred votes. Prince Albert Carlton has been an NDP stronghold in the past and in normal circumstances is very winnable for the party. However the 2011 election is not a normal situation.

Constituency Profile: Saskatoon Greystone

Saskatoon Greystone constituency is outline in red on the map above.

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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.

Constituency Profile: Saskatoon Sutherland

Saskatoon Sutherland constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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As far as the short history of urban constituencies in Saskatchewan go, that of Saskatoon Sutherland is rather interesting. While it could never be called a bellwether seat, it is a seat that generally reveals the future direction of provincial politics in Saskatchewan; as Saskatoon Sutherland goes, so will the overall political direction. The first time that Saskatoon Sutherland was contested was in the pivotal 1975 provincial election. By this time the dilletantes already had their fangs sunk deeply into the Saskatchewan Liberal Party and were already well on their way to driving the proverbial dagger into the party the first time around. But in spite of themselves, the Liberals actually won this constituency, with popular City Councillor Evelyn Edwards as the candidate. But unfortunately for Edwards, she passed away suddenly the following year. In the subsequent by-election, PC candidate Harold Lane won, an event which fuelled the rise of the Tories in provincial politics, and also fuelled the demise of the Liberals. But in 1978, Saskatoon Sutherland switched MLAs again, this time going with Peter Prebble of the NDP. It would be the only time Prebble was elected in Saskatoon Sutherland, but definitely not his last term as an MLA!

In 1982 Prebble ran for re-election in another constituency and lost. The new MLA elected for Saskatoon Sutherland amid the "Monday Night Massacre" was PC candidate Paul Schoenhals. Schoenhals served in the Devine Cabinet during his term, and after his defeat in 1986 he became the President and CEO of the newly-privatized Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan. Schoenhals was defeated by Mark Koenker of the NDP, a Lutheran Pastor. Koenker was re-elected in 1991 and 1995 and retired in 1999. Another New Democrat, Graham Addley, won in Saskatoon Sutherland in '99,and was re-elected in 2003. Addley served as Minister of Investment Saskatchewan and ISC in the Calvert Government until his defeat in 2007 to Joceline Schreimer of the Saskatchewan Party. Schreimer decided not to run for re-election in 2011. In her place, the Sask Party has nominated Paul Merriman, the son of former Saskatoon Northwest Sask Party MLA Ted Merriman. The NDP candidate is Naveed Anwar, the Green candidate is Larry Waldinger and Kaleb Jeffries is the Liberal candidate.

It is likely that the Sask Party will hold Saskatoon Sutherland and possibly add to their margin of victory from 2007 by taking from the Liberal column. Schreimer won with 43 percent of the vote in 2007, so Merriman could capture up to 50 percent of the vote or more this time around. Waldinger is also an active Green candidate; it will be very interesting to see how he finishes in this contest.

Constituency Profile: Saskatoon Southeast

Saskatoon Southeast constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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Saskatoon Southeast was first contested in the 1991 election (also called the Monday Night Massacre Part 2) under the name of Saskatoon Wildwood. The riding was renamed to Saskatoon Southeast in 1995. The first MLA for this riding was Pat Lorje of the NDP. Lorje was a 12 year veteran of Saskatoon City Council before making the leap to the provincial arena. Lorje won by about 1,100 votes in 1991, 540 votes in 1995, and just 38 votes in 1999, each time against a Liberal candidate. The 1999 results went to a recount, but were dropped after the Liberal MLAs signed their death warrants by joining the disastrous Coalition Government. Somehow, Lorje made it into the Romanow and Calvert cabinets, serving in the following portfolios; Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Provincial Secretary, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, and Minister of the Environment. Toward the end of Lorje's time as an MLA she was briefly out of cabinet after a bizarre incident where she allegedly struck one of her aides. Apparently, the incident was coined later as an "afffectionate slap". Lorje didn't run for re-election in 2003, and took off for the glamourous life of Hollywood before returning to Saskatoon, and is now on City Council again.

After having lost Saskatoon Southeast by just 38 votes in 1999, there was a rumour afterward that in 2003, Liberal Leader David Karwacki was holding open the Liberal nomination in the seat for a star candidate. David's brother Grant had been the Liberal candidate in 1999, but in 2003 Grant decided to run in Saskatoon Nutana instead. However, the star candidate never materialized, and prominent Saskatoon lawyer Don Morgan stormed to victory for the Saskatchewan Party in the riding. Morgan has since gone on to easy re-election in 2007 by over 3,000 votes or 30 percentage points, and looks poised to win this riding again on November 7th.

Morgan is Justice Minister and Attorney General in the Wall Government, and one of the big power brokers in caucus. In 2007, Morgan captured 59 percent of the vote. With the wind in the Sask Party's sails and just a paper candidate running for the Liberals in Saskatoon Southeast, Morgan could easily win 70 percent of the vote or more in this election.

Constituency Profile: Saskatoon Silver Springs

Saskatoon Silver Springs constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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Saskatoon Silver Springs is one of the newest constituencies in the province. It reflects the tremendous growth on the northeast side of Saskatoon. Saskatoon Silver Springs was first contested in the 2003 provincial election. It was won by Ken Cheveldayoff of the Saskatchewan Party with about 45 percent of the vote, compared to 39 percent for the NDP. Cheveldayoff was re-elected in 2007 with 62 percent of the vote. Since 2007 Cheveldayoff has held several portfolios in the Wall Government, including Minister of Crown Corporations, Minister of Enteprise Saskatchewan, and now Minister of First Nations and Metis Relations.

Cheveldayoff is indeed seeking re-election on November 7. Ken is expected to win easy re-election in this seat, with up to 70 percent of the vote.

Constituency Profile: Saskatoon Northwest

Saskatoon Northwest constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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Saskatoon Northwest was a new constituency created for the 1995 provincial election. That year Grant Whitmore was re-elected as a New Democrat MLA. Whitmore was first elected in 1991 in Biggar. but Whitmore was narrowly defeated in 1999 by Saskatchewan Liberal Leader Jim Melenchuk by just 127 votes. Melenchuk and the other Liberals went on to sign the disastrous Coalition Government deal with the NDP, and Melenchuk ended up becoming Minister of Finance in the Coalition Government. Liberals booted Melenchuk as Leader in 2001,and so he tried running for re-election in 2003 as a New Democrat but lost to Ted Merriman of the Saskatchewan Party by 270 votes. But Merriman did not run for re-election in 2007, and was replaced by the controversial Serge LeClerc. LeClerc resigned as MLA for Saskatoon Northwest following allegations made on a cassette that he was using cocaine. In the November 2010 by-election, Gord Wyant, a City Councillor, cruised to victory in the seat with 59 percent of the vote.

The races in Saskatoon Northwest were always close as long as the Liberals were a contender. But in the 2010 by-election, the Liberals collapsed to just 3 percent of the vote in that constituency. Wyant is running for re-election on November 7 in Saskatoon Northwest, as is Liberal candidate Eric Steiner. It is very likely that Wyant will win on Monday with over 60 percent of the vote.

Constituency Profile: Saskatoon Centre

Saskatoon Centre is outlined in red on the map above.

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Saskatoon Centre was first created as an electoral district in 1975, was known as Saskatoon Idylwyld from 1991 to 2003, and since 2003 is called Saskatoon Centre again. This seat is an NDP stronghold on the west side of the river in Saskatoon.

The first MLA for Saskatoon Centre was Paul Mostoway of the NDP. Mostoway was re-elected in 1978 but was defeated in 1982 in the "Monday Night Massacre". From 1982 to 1986, the MLA for this seat was Progressive Conservative Jack Sandberg, a CFQC TV announcer who served briefly in the Devine Cabinet. Sandberg was defeated in 1986 by Anne Smart of the NDP. But Smart lost her nomination meeting to run again in 1991 to a young lawyer named Eric Cline, who would go on to become a well-known cabinet minister in the Romanow and Calvert Governments, including the post of Finance Minister. Cline was the MLA for Saskatoon Idylwyld until 1995, then fellow New Democrat Janice MacKinnon was the MLA here until 2001. MacKinnon was the first woman Finance Minister in Canada and brought in the first balanced budget in Canada in 1994.

David Forbes, a teacher and vice-principal, won the by-election to replace MacKinnon, and was re-elected in 2003 and 2007 in Saskatoon Centre. Forbes is standing for re-election on November 7. Apparently polling of voters in Saskatoon Centre shows that Forbes has a substantial lead in the riding, and is in no danger of being defeated. Thus he is very likely to survive the electoral tsunami headed for the Saskatchewan NDP on November 7.

Constituency Profile: Saskatoon Nutana

Saskatoon Nutana constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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The constituency now called Saskatoon Nutana was first contested in 1967 when Saskatoon first had multiple constituencies. In that election the seat was won by Clarence Estey of the Liberals over future NDP MLA and cabinet minister Wes Robbins. Estey lost to Robbins in 1971, and Robbins was re-elected in in 1975 and 1978. In 1978, Robbins was challenged by a young Agricultural Economics Professor from the U of S who was running for the PCs; has name was Grant Devine.

In 1982, Robbins retired and the seat was won by Evelyn Bacon of the PCs in the "Monday Night Massacre". Bacon only won by 105 votes. In 1986 Pat Atkinson stormed to victory in Saskatoon Nutana by easily defeating Bacon. Atkinson has since been re-elected in Saskatoon Nutana by wide margins in 1986, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007. Atkinson's margin of victory in 2007 was 52 percent compared to 29 percent for the Sask Party. Atkinson held a variety of cabinet posts in the Romanow and Calvert Governments, including Minister of Health, Minister of Education, Minister of Social Services, and Minister of Finance.

Atkinson announced earlier this year that she was not seeking re-election, making way for her constituency association president Cathy Sproule to run in her place. Sproule is being challenged by Zoria Broughton of the Sask Party. Broughton had run for the Liberals in Saskatoon Southeast in 2003. Some folks in the Sask Party believe that with the immense popularity of Premier Wall could push them over the top in Saskatoon Nutana this time. However the conventional wisdom is that Sproule will successful stave off the challenge, but it could be a close contest. An NDP win in Saskatoon Nutana is the most likely outcome, and any gain by the Sask Party here would be deemed an upset, and would likely mean that the Sask Party has won almost every seat in the Leg this time.

Constituency Profile: Athabasca

Athabasca constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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Athabasca has a long and interesting political history. The current Athabasca constituency traces its history back to the pivotal 1934 provincial election. That was the time when the Anderson Government lost every MLA, the Liberals won a landslide with 50 out of 55 seats, and a new party called the Farmer-Labour Party won 5 seats (this party later changed its name to the CCF). The Liberals won Athabasca in 1934, and the winner was Deakin Hall. Hall was a Liberal MLA in northern Saskatchewan from 1913 until 1944. Anyhow, Hall was MLA for Athabasca from 1934 to 1938 and then switched ridings. In 1938 the new Liberal MLA for Athabasca was Jules Marion, a Metis politician and businessman who lost to Hall in 1934, as a Liberal. Yes, the two candidates were both Liberals ,and one lost to another. Anyhow, Marion was an MLA in the north from 1926 to 1934 and from 1934 until his death in 1941. Liberal Hubert Staines won a 1941 by-election by-acclamation, and in 1944 Staines made way way for fellow Liberal Louis Marion, son of Jules Marion. Marion survived the CCF sweep of 1944, but in 1948 ran for re-election in Athabasca as an Independent and won. This is the last instance where an Independent MLA has been elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature.

After 1952, Liberal James Ripley was the MLA for Athabasca until 1956 and in 1956 the CCF won Athabasca with candidate John Harrop. But in 1960 the Liberals won in Athabasca again, with Allan Guy as the candidate. Guy was re-elected in 1964, 1967 and 1971, and served as Minister of Public Works, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of the Saskatchewan Indians and Metis Department. In 1971, Guy was only re-elected in Athabasca by 12 votes over the NDP, so the results went to a by-election in September 1972. Guy won the by-election by 30 votes, and returned to the Legislature. In 1975 Guy didn't run again in Athabasca, and tried instead to run for the Liberals in Rosthern when David Boldt retired. But Guy lost to Ralph Katzman of the PCs.

In 1975 Fred Thompson won Athabasca for the NDP, and was re-elected in 1978, 1982, 1986 and 1991. Thompson held different cabinet positions in the Romanow Government, including Associate Minister of Economic Development, Minister of the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, and Minister of the Saskatchewan Forest Products Corporation. But in 1995 Thompson was defeated by Liberal Buckley Belanger, by 159 votes or about 5 percentage points. In 1998 Belanger left the Liberals, resigned as MLA and ran for re-election in a by-election with the NDP. Belanger easily won the by-election with over 94 percent of the vote, the second highest margin of victory in Saskatchewan political history. After 1999 Belanger became Minister of the Environment and Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. Later Belanger also became Minister of Northern Affairs.

Belanger was re-elected in 1999 with 84 percent of the vote, 70 percent in 2003 and 59 percent in 2007. Belanger is seeking re-election on November 7. Although NDP fortunes are down this time, Belanger is still expected to win again in Athabasca, by a healthy margin. Oddly enough it will be the first time that there will be no Liberal candidate on the ballot in this riding. In a seat where at one time the only candidates on the ballots were 2 Liberals competing against each other, to not have a Liberal candidate on the ballot at all this time seems out of place.

Constituency Profile: Saskatchewan Rivers

Saskatchewan Rivers constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

For more information on Saskatchewan Rivers constituency, please click here.

Saskatchewan Rivers first appeared on the Saskatchewan political map for the 1995 provincial election. Since that time, this seat has gone back and forth between the NDP and the Saskatchewan Party.

The first MLA for Saskatchewan Rivers was Jack Langford of the NDP. Langford was first elected in 1991 in the old Shellbrook-Torch River riding. In 1995 Langford won Saskatchewan Rivers by 1,021 votes or 15 percentage points over the Liberals. But in 1999 Langford was handed a narrow defeat by Daryl Wiberg of the Saskatchewan Party. Wiberg had narrowly lost in the 1997 federal election for the Reform Party but beat Langford in 1999 by 156 votes. But Wiberg's time as an MLA was, for in 2003 he lost to Lon Borgerson of the NDP. Borgerson won by 618 votes or about 8 percentage points. Borgerson was MLA until 2007, when he in turn was defeated by Nadine Wilson by 1,073 votes or about 13 percentage points.

Wilson is running for re-election in Saskatchewan Rivers on November 7th. Wilson won with about 55 percent of the vote in 2007. Without a Liberal candidate this time and with Premier Wall's popularity fuelling support for the Sask Party, Wilson could win this time with over 60 percent of the vote.

Constituency Profile: Rosthern-Shellbrook

Rosthern-Shellbrook constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

For more information on Rosthern-Shellbrook constituency, please lick on this link.

Rosthern-Shellbrook is a very new constituency, having first been created for the 2003 provincial election after fitting together pieces of the former Rosthern, Shellbrook-Spiritwood, and Redberry Lake constituencies. Prior to 2003, Shellbrook-Spiritwood and Redberry Lake were more or less swing ridings, while Rosthern has a strong conservative voting history.

The first and only MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook so far is Denis Allchurch of the Saskatchewan Party, who was first elected in 1999 iun Shellbrook-Spiritwood. Allchurch is the former Mayor of Spiritwood. Earlier this year, Allchurch was successfully challenged for his nomination by Scott Moe, his membership chair. As a result of this, Allchurch is not seeking re-election. It is expected that the Sask Party will easily win this riding again, since Premier Wall is very popular and there is no Liberal candidate this time. Moe could win for the Sask Party this time with upward of 65 percent of the vote or more. Allchurch captured about 58 percent of the vote here in 2007.

Constituency Profile: Lloydminster

Lloydminster constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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Lloydminster constituency first came into existence for the 1908 provincial election, then vanished after 1929 into Cutknife-Lloydminister. In 1995 Lloydminster constituency returned. In its early history Lloydminster voted strongly Liberal, but starting in the 1920s and 1930s took a strong socialist turn and remained that way into the 1990s, except for a brief interlude with the Tories in the 1980s.

The first MLA for the modern constituency of Lloydminister in 1995 was Violet Stanger of the NDP. Stanger was first elected in 1991 in the "Monday Night Massacre Part 2" in the old Cutknife-Lloydminster riding. In 1995 Stanger won with about 44 percent of the vote, or a margin of 266 votes. But when Stanger ran for re-election in 1999, she along with most of her rural colleagues were swept out by the Saskatchewan Party. Milt Wakefield, a former commissioner with the Canadian Grain Commission, won for the Sask Party with 53 percent of the vote, compared to 38 percent for Stanger. But the next time Wakefield ran for re-election in 2003, he almost lost to the NDP; only 76 votes separated Wakefield from Wayne Byers of the NDP. But Wakefield retired in 1997 and was replaced by fellow Sask Party member Tim McMillan who captured 61 percent of the vote, a 25 percentage point spread over the NDP. Today McMillan holds several cabinet portfolios, including Minister of CIC, Minister of ISC, Minister of SGI, and Minister of the Sask Liquor and Gaming Authority. McMillan also got a private members bill passed in 2009 to protect the wild ponies in Bronson Forest in his constituency.

McMillan is running for re-election on November 7. Based on his personal popularity, his track record as an MLA and Cabinet Minister and the dynamics of the election campaign, and the voting history of Lloydminister, it is likely that McMillan will be easily re-elected this time. McMillan faces no Liberal opponent, and the Greens are contesting this seat for the first time with an attractive young candidate named Meggan Hougham. Hougham is no hippie, is campaigning hard, and had a campaign visit from Green Leader Victor Lau early in the election campaign. 

Advance Polls busy

What does this mean?Everyone said this was going to be a boring election, but what if turnout turns out to be high? Maybe this is going to be more interesting than we first thought...

Constituency Profile: Biggar

Biggar constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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The historical Biggar constituency existed from 1912 to 1991. It was a seat with a lot of traditional CCF/NDP strength. Prominent former MLAs from Biggar's past include CCF Premier Woodrow Lloyd and NDP cabinet minister Elwood Cowley.

Biggar was reconstituted for the 2003 provincial election. The only MLA for Biggar since that time is Randy Weekes of the Saskatchewan Party. Weekes was first elected as an MLA in 1999 in the old Redberry Lake constituency. Weekes was re-elected in 2007 with 60 percent of the vote. Since there will be no Liberal candidate in Biggar this time and with the strong momentum behind the Sask Party, Weekes could win 65 to 70 percent of the vote in the riding. However, the space that the Liberals used to occupy in Biggar could be made up the the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding, and by Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan Leader Dana Arnason, who is making his first run in Biggar. This is one of the ridings I will be watching on election night.

Constituency Profile: Batoche

Batoche constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

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

Batoche constituency first appeared on Saskatchewan's electoral map for the 2003 provincial election, having been sewn together from pieces of 6 other constituencies. The only MLA for Batoche so far is Delbert Kirsch of the Saskatchewan Party. Kirsch was re-elected in 2007 and is letting his name stand again for November 7. Kirsch faces a strong challenge from Janice Bernier, a retired trade unionist. While Bernier is surely putting up a good fight, it is very likely that Kirsch will be swept in on Brad Wall's coattails again. Also the absence of a Liberal candidate in the constituency tips the scales strongly in the Saskatchewan Party's favour. Kirsch won with 60 percent of the vote in 2007, and could easily top out at 70 percent or more in this election.

Constituency Profile: Humboldt

Humboldt constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

For more information on Humboldt constituency, please click on this link.

Upon upon a time, in a Saskatchewan political age not dominated by dillettantes, Humboldt constituency was a Liberal fortress. The core of the voting base was made up of people of German Catholic ancestry, and the reputation of Humboldt voters lasted until recent times.

The first MLA was elected for Humboldt constituency in 1905. David Neely was a doctor who was originally from Ontario, but was part of the Western drive to settle Saskatchewan with entrepreneurs early in the 20th century. Neely was re-elected in 1908, then made the leap to federal politics. He was replaced in a December 1905 by-election by William Motherwell, the powerful Minister of Agriculture in the Saskatchewan Liberal dynasty. Motherwell replaced in 1912 by fellow Liberal William Turgeon. Turgeon had previously served as the MLA for Prince Albert City from 1907 to 1908 and for Duck Lake from 1908 to 1912. Turgeon served first as Provincial Secretary in the Liberal dynasty, then became Attorney General. After he left the Liberal Government in 1921, he became a Justice with the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, then Chief Justice of Saskatchewan. After 1941 Turgeon became a diplomat with the federal government and represented Canada as Ambassador in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland and Portugal.

Henry Therres was acclaimed as the Liberal MLA for Humboldt in 1921, and retained his seat as an Independent Liberal in 1925 and then again as a Liberal in 1929. James Hogan kept the seat for the Liberals in 1934, and then James King won the seat again in a November 1935 by-election and the 1938 provincial election. But in a 1938 by-election, Liberal dominance in Humboldt ended with a CCF victory. The winning candidate was Joseph Burton. Burton didn't run for re-election in 1944 and was succeeded by fellow CCFer Ben Putnam. In 1948 Arnold Loehr won Humboldt back for the Liberals but in 1952 Burton won the seat again for the CCF, and he became Provincial Secretary in the Douglas Government. In 1956 Mary Batten took back Humboldt for the Liberals. Batten became the first woman of Ukrainian ancestry to be elected as an MLA in Saskatchewan. She was re-elected in 1960 but in 1964 she was appointed to Court of Queen's Bench, and later served as Chief Justice until her retirement in 1990.

In 1964 Batten was succeeded by fellow Liberal Matt Breker. Breker was re-elected in 1964 but went down to defeat in 1971 to a teacher named Ed Tchorzewski. Tchorzewski later went on to become a big player in Saskatchewan NDP politics, and served in several cabinet positions. Tchorzewski was defeated in 1982 and later won the Regina North East by-election on November 25, 1985. The new MLA for Humboldt in 1982 was Louis Domotor with the PC Party. But Domotor's time in office was short, as he was defeated in 1986 by Eric Upshall, a farmer from Young who ran for the NDP. Upshall was re-elected in 1991 and 1995, and became Minister of Agriculture in the Romanow Government. However there was a redrawing of the boundaries for 1995, and Upshall was re-elected in the Watrous constituency. Thus Arlene Jule of Bruno was elected the Liberal MLA for Humboldt in 1995. Three years later she joined the Saskatchewan Party, and was re-elected in 1999. After another redrawing of the boundaries, Donna Harpauer of the Sask Party became MLA for Humboldt in 2003, and was easily re-elected in 2007 with 57 percent of the vote.

Incredibly, there will be no Liberal candidate this time in Humboldt. That and the strong momentum behind Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party ensures that Harpauer will easily be re-elected here, likely with 65 to 70 percent of the vote.

Constituency Profile: Yorkton

Yorkton constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

For more information on Yorkton constituency, please click on this link.For more information on Yorkton constituency, please click on this link.

With the exceptions of the 1938 and 1960 provincial elections, Yorkton constituency has always elected a government MLA. This makes Yorkton a fairly reliable bellwether riding.

The first MLA for Yorkton was Thomas Garry. He was the Liberal MLA for Yorkton for the most important years of the Saskatchewan Liberal dynasty, from 1905 to 1929. He was replaced in 1929 by Alan Stewart, an Independent who became Minister of Highways in the Anderson Coalition government. Stewart was defeated by Liberal Vincent Smith in 1934, but made a comeback in 1938 as a Unity party MLA. Stewart was defeated in the CCF landslide by Arthur Swallow. The CCF continued to hold Yorkton when Frederick Neibrandt was elected here in 1956. In 1960 Bernard Gallagher of the famous Gallagher family of Yorkton won for the Liberals, and remained the MLA until 1971. The NDP recaptured Yorkton in 1971 with Irving Carlson, and he was replaced by fellow New Democrat Randall Nelson in 1975. Nelsonw as defeated by Lorne McLaren of the PC Party in the 1982 'Monday Night Massacre'. McLaren was Minister of Labour in the Devine Government from 1982 to 1985, and Government Caucas Chair after that. He was defeated in 1991. McLaren was later convinted in connection with the Tory Fraud Scandal of the Devine Government and was sentenced to 3 and half years in prison.

In 1991 Clay Serby of the NDP won Yorkton in the "Monday Night Massacre Part 2". Serby was on Yorkton City Council but spent hsi first term on the NDP backbenches. But when the rest of his colleagues from east central Saskatchewan were defeated in 1995, Serby began to rise within the Romanow Government. It would take forever to list all of Serby's cabinet positions, but it is safe to say that wherever there was a fire burning in the Romanow Government, Serby was dispatched to put it out! Serby got to be very good at stickhandling the most difficult files in the government, so he kept getting tough assignments. Finally when Lorne Calvert succeeded Roy Romanow as Premier in 2001, Serby was named Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture. For the remainder of the time that the NDP were in power, Serby remained a pillar of strength in the government during a time when the NDP were starting to lose their grip on power. When Serby was diagnosed with cancer in 2003, it was news that hit everyone in Saskatchewan very hard. But he perserved and recovered, only to be diagnosed with cancer again. Serby didn't seek re-election in 2007, and thus Greg Ottenbreit of the Saskatchewan Party won the Yorkton constituency.

Ottenbreit is seeking re-election on November 7 and faces a stiff challenge from the NDP. During the campaign Ottenbreit apologized for comments he made in a debate regarding Aboriginal people. It's not clear at this point if his comments will have any impact on the outcome of Yorkton constituency on November 7. But since Yorkton is a bellwether riding and the polling shows the Sask Party is headed for a second term of power, it is very likely that Ottenbreit will also be re-elected this time.

Constituency Profile: Moosomin

Moosomin constituency is outlined in red on the map above.

For more information on the Moosomin constituency, please click this link.

The electoral results for Moosomin constituency go back to the first provincial election in 1905. Like its twin constituency of Cannington, Moosomin has a very conservative voting trend and has never elected a CCF/NDP MLA. And like Cannington, there have been just two MLAs for Moosomin since 1975. It should also be noted here that the last MLA to represent Moosomin in a Saskatchewan cabinet was Hammy McDonald, who was Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture in the Thatcher Government until his appointment to the Senate in February 1965.

The 1975 provincial election was a watershed event in Saskatchewan politics, as it marked the beginning of the terminal decline of the Saskatchewan Liberal party and the return of the long-dead PC party of Saskatchewan. A young farmer from the Welwyn area named Larry Birkbeck narrowly beat the Liberal incumbent John Gardner of the Benson area. Birkbeck joined 6 other new PC MLAs to form the first Tory caucus in the Saskatchewan Legislature since 1934. Birkbeck went on to be easily re-elected in 1978 and 1982. In 1986 Birkbeck was replaced as the PC MLA for Moosomin by Don Toth of Langbank. Toth was easily re-elected with 60 percent of the vote in 1986,. but in 1991 the NDP came within 50 votes of beating Toth. Don was re-elected more comfortably in 1995 and in 1997 he became one of the eight founding MLAs of the Saskatchewan Party. Toth has since been re-elected in 2003 and 2007, with 59 and 72 percent of the vote. In 2007 Toth became the Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature.

Toth is running again on November 7, and faces no serious competition for Moosomin, and without a Liberal opponent this time, he could win up to 80 percent of the vote.

Constituency Profile: Cannington

 Cannington constituency is marked in red on the map above.
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The original Cannington constituency was one of the 25 seats contested in Saskatchewan's first general election. The modern history of the Cannington constituency begins in 1975, which marked a pivotal turning point in this constituency's history., and that of the province's politics. Up to 1975, this constituency was a fief of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party. But in 1975, Eric Bernston of the PC Party wrestled this seat away from the Liberals,and it has never been Liberal since. Berntson went on to get re-elected in 1978, 1982 and 1986, and served as Deputy Premier in the Devine Government. In fact Berntson was the driving force of the government, while Devine was the public facade sent out to greet the public. Berntson was appointed to the Senate in 1990, and the constituency remained vacant until the 1991 election. Berntson was later charged in relation to the Tory Fraud Scandal and convicted.

In 1991 Dan D'Autremont of Alida became the new PC MLA for this seat. D'Autremont was one of the survivors of the PC caucus in 1995 and was a founder of the Saskatchewan Party 2 years later. D'Autremont went on to easy re-election in 1999, 2003 and 2007. When the Sask Party won government in 2007, D'Autremont was made Minister of Government Services and the Liquor and Gaming Authority. D'Autremont is not in cabinet at the present time. Dan is running for re-election on November 7. He got 77 percent of the vote in Cannington in 2007. Without a Liberal candidate in Cannington this time and with the strong momentum behind the Sask Party and against the NDP, D'Autremont could easily win up to 85 percent of the vote in the constituency this time.