Saskatchewan general election, 1999

Saskatchewan general election, 1999

1995 ← members September 16, 1999 → 2003 members

58 seats in the 24th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan 30 seats needed for a majority   First party Second party Third party   NDP SK LIB Leader Roy Romanow Elwin Hermanson Jim Melenchuk Party New Democrat SK Party Liberal Leader since 1987 1998 1996 Leader's seat Saskatoon Riversdale Rosetown-Elrose Saskatoon Northwest Last election 42 * 11 Seats won 29 25 4 Seat change -12 +25 -7 Popular vote 157,046 160,603 81,694 Percentage 38.73% 39.61% 20.15% Swing -8.48% * -14.55%

Premier before election Roy Romanow New Democrat Elected Premier Roy Romanow New Democrat

The Saskatchewan general election of 1999 was the twenty-fourth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on September 16, 1999 to elect members of the 24th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.

Polls during the campaign indicated strong levels of support for the New Democratic Party government. However, facing the fallout of a poor crop growing season and a scandal involving SaskPower (Channel Lake), the New Democrat government of Premier Roy Romanow – challenged by the newly created Saskatchewan Party – lost a significant share of the popular vote; winning exactly half of the fifty eight seats in the legislature.

The right-wing Saskatchewan Party was created during the sitting of the 23rd Assembly by former members of the Progressive Conservative Party and by conservative Liberals who were unhappy with the leadership of Jim Melenchuk.

The new party was led by Elwin Hermanson, a former Reform Party federal Member of Parliament. In this election, it won 39.61% of the popular vote – slightly more than the NDP's 38.73% – but only twenty five seats.

The NDP was able to continue to govern with the support of some Liberal Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

Some New Democrat party members unhappy with the government of Roy Romanow left to form the New Green Alliance, an environmentalist party. This party won about 1% of the popular vote, and no seats in the legislature.

The Progressive Conservative Party nominated fourteen paper candidates – all in NDP strongholds – in order to preserve its status as a registered political party. The Tories did not actively campaign and won only a few votes.

Seating Plan After the Election

Results

Party		Party leader	# of candidates	Seats				Popular vote
				1995	Dissolution	Elected	% Change	#	%	% Change
	New Democratic	Roy Romanow	58	42	43	29	-32.6%	157,046	38.73%	-8.48%
	Saskatchewan Party	Elwin Hermanson	58	*	10	251	*	160,603	39.61%	*
	Liberal	Jim Melenchuk	58	11	5	41	-72.7%	81,694	20.15%	-14.55%
	New Green Alliance	Neil Sinclair	16	*	–	–	*	4,101	1.01%	*
	Progressive Conservative	Iris Dennis	14	5	–	–	-100%	1,609	0.40%	-17.52%
	Independent		2	–	–	–	–	422	0.10%	-0.07%
Total			206	58	58	571	–	405,475	100%

Source: Elections Saskatchewan

Notes: * Party did not nominate candidates in previous election. ¹ One constituency – Wood River – was initially won by the Liberals, but the result was overturned by the courts. The Saskatchewan Party won the ensuing by-election.

Party		Seats	Second	Third	Fourth	Fifth
	New Democratic Party	29	24	5	0	0
	Saskatchewan Party	25	23	8	2	0
	Liberal Party	4	11	45	0	0
	New Green Alliance	0	0	0	15	1
	Progressive Conservative	0	0	0	7	7
	Independent	0	0	0	2	0

8 closest ridings

1. Wood River: Yogi Huyghebaert (SK Party) def. Glen McPherson (Lib) by 7 votes¹
2. Saskatoon Southeast: Pat Lorje (NDP) def. Grant Karwacki (Lib) by 38 votes
3. Regina Wascana Plains: Doreen Hamilton (NDP) def. Dan Thibault (SK Party) by 119 votes
4. Saskatoon Northwest: Jim Melenchuk (Lib) def. Grant Whitmore (NDP) by 127 votes
5. Saskatchewan Rivers: Daryl Wiberg (SK Party) def. Jack Langford (NDP) by 156 votes
6. Shellbrook-Spiritwood: Denis Allchurch (SK Party) def. Lloyd Johnson (NDP) by 301 votes
7. Yorkton: Clay Serby (NDP) def. Lorne Gogal (SK Party) by 306 votes
8. Meadow Lake: Maynard Sonntag (NDP) def. Bob Young (SK Party) by 323 votes

Notes: ¹ see below under "Wood River controversy"

Riding results

People in bold represent cabinet ministers and the Speaker. Party leaders are italicized. The symbol " ** " represents MLAs who are not running again.

Northwest Saskatchewan

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		NDP		Sask. Party		Liberal		Other
Athabasca		Buckley Belanger 2,512		Bert Roach 76		Allan Adam 389				Buckley Belanger
Battleford-Cut Knife		Sharon Murrell 2,438		Rudi Peters 3,107		Gary McArthur 1,242				Sharon Murrell
Lloydminster		Violet Stanger 2,135		Milton Wakefield 2,928		Larry Ingram 458				Violet Stanger
Meadow Lake		Maynard Sonntag 2,846		Bob Young 2,523		Don Coupland 722				Maynard Sonntag
North Battleford		Kim Newsham 2,672		Josiah Rise 1,026		Jack Hillson 3,478				Jack Hillson
Rosthern		Nadia Willard 1,828		Ben Heppner 4,331		Warren McCloud 690				Ben Heppner
Shellbrook-Spiritwood		Lloyd Johnson 2,594		Denis Allchurch 2,895		Walter Krushelniski 1,223				Lloyd Johnson

Northeast Saskatchewan

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		NDP		Sask. Party		Liberal		Other
Canora-Pelly		Bill Dodge 2,195		Ken Krawetz 4,529		Richard McLeod 935		David Sawkiw (Ind.) 127		Ken Krawetz
Carrot River Valley		Andy Renaud 2,803		Carl Kwiatkowski 3,582		Ron Wassill 667				Andy Renaud
Cumberland		Keith Goulet 2,402		Don Johannesson 336		Winston McKay 627		Quentin Agnew (PC) 117		Keith Goulet
Kelvington-Wadena		Doug Still 2,152		June Draude 5,045		Sean Macknak 488				June Draude
Melfort-Tisdale		Carol Carson 2,489		Rod Gantefoer 4,096		Ken Magnus 1,310				Rod Gantefoer
Prince Albert Carlton		Myron Kowalsky 3,157		Bert Provost 1,742		Dan Pinto 943				Myron Kowalsky
Prince Albert Northcote		Eldon Lautermilch 2,485		Pauline Provost 754		Jim Stiglitz 1,632		Kevin Shiach (PC) 135		Eldon Lautermilch
Saskatchewan Rivers		Jack Langford 2,892		Daryl Wiberg 3,048		Stan Kowal 852				Jack Langford

West Central Saskatchewan

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		NDP		Sask. Party		Liberal		Other
Arm River		Ron Bishoff 2,110		Greg Brkich 3,696		Harvey McLane 2,624				Harvey McLane
Humboldt		Armand Roy 2,978		Arlene Julé 3,821		Joanne Perreault 1,459		Ron Schriml (NGA) 250		Arlene Julé
Kindersley		Bill Rosher 1,444		Bill Boyd 4,491		Vaughn Biberdorf 1,140				Bill Boyd
Redberry Lake		Walter Jess 2,444		Randy Weekes 3,860		Harry Lewchuk 1,082		Ivan Olynyk (NGA) 162		Walter Jess
Rosetown-Biggar		Berny Wiens 2,801		Elwin Hermanson 4,907		John Hendrickson 548		Rick Barsky (NGA) 75		Berny Wiens
Watrous		Eric Upshall 2,928		Donna Harpauer 3,572		Ray Hall 1,437				Eric Upshall

Southwest Saskatchewan

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		NDP		Sask. Party		Liberal		Other
Cypress Hills1		Keith Murch 1,368		Wayne Elhard 4,138		Barry Thienes 1,097				Wayne Elhard
Moose Jaw North		Glenn Hagel 3,451		Alene Tanner 2,772		Tatum Benz 591				Glenn Hagel
Moose Jaw Wakamow		Deb Higgins 3,111		Doris Dunphy 1,892		Marlin Belt 668		Vanessa Slater (PC) 99		Lorne Calvert**
Swift Current		John Wall 2,538		Brad Wall 4,600		Rhonda Thompson 1,269				John Wall
Thunder Creek		Ivan Costley 1,496		Lyle Stewart 3,969		Gerald Aldridge 2,031				Gerald Aldridge
Wood River2		Robert Anderson 1,608		Yogi Huyghebaert 3,139		Glen McPherson 3,132				Glen McPherson

Notes

1. Elhard was elected to the Legislature as a member of the Saskatchewan Party in a June 1999 by-election following the resignation and eventual conviction of former PC MLA Jack Goohsen.
2. see below under Wood River controversy

Southeast Saskatchewan

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		NDP		Sask. Party		Liberal		Other
Cannington		Glen Lawson 1,104		Dan D'Autremont 5,671		Joanne Johnston 798				Dan D'Autremont
Estevan		Larry Ward 1,484		Doreen Eagles 3,577		Neil Collins 2,440		Sigfredo Gonzalez (NGA) 130		Larry Ward
Indian Head- Milestone		Lorne Scott 2,305		Don McMorris 3,877		Larry Schultz 1,693		Garth Herman (NGA) 187		Lorne Scott
Last Mountain-Touchwood		Dale Flavel 2,909		Glen Hart 3,816		Ken Kluz 1,363				Dale Flavel
Melville		Michael Fisher 2,056		Garry Hoffman 2,165		Ron Osika 3,419				Ron Osika
Moosomin		John McCormick 1,604		Don Toth 4,669		John Van Eaton 1,539				Don Toth
Saltcoats		Leo Fuhr 1,884		Bob Bjornerud 4,688		Vic Polsom 933				Bob Bjonerud
Weyburn- Big Muddy		Judy Bradley 2,899		Brenda Bakken 4,015		Joseph Weisgerber 1,373				Judy Bradley
Yorkton		Clay Serby 2,893		Lorne Gogal 2,587		Richard Yaholnitsky 1,578				Clay Serby

Saskatoon

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		NDP		Sask. Party		Liberal		Other
Saskatoon Eastview		Judy Junor 3,644		Francis Kreiser 2,646		Bernie Yuzdepski 1,722		Sandy Ervin (NGA) 366		Judy Junor
Saskatoon Fairview		Chris Axworthy 2,653		Sandra Rees 1,137		Barry Anderson 649		Gwen Katzman (PC) 153 Lynn Oliphant (NGA) 89		Chris Axworthy
Saskatoon Greystone		Peter Prebble 3,630		John Brennan 2,501		Peter Stroh 1,454				Lynda Haverstock**
Saskatoon Idylwyld		Janice MacKinnon 3,144		Martin Boser 1,333		Tim Ponto 977		Maisie Shiell (NGA) 258 Kenneth J. Klassen (PC) 122		Janice MacKinnon
Saskatoon Meewasin		Carolyn Jones 3,588		Rodger Broadhead 2,863		Paul Prisciak 1,374		David Greenfield (NGA) 294		Carol Teichrob**
Saskatoon Mount Royal		Eric Cline 3,523		Tyson Delorme 1,280		Myron Luczka 1,187		Kirk Eggum (PC) 89		Eric Cline
Saskatoon Northwest		Grant Whitmore 2,236		Jerry Ehalt 1,912		Jim Melenchuk 2,363				Grant Whitmore
Saskatoon Nutana		Pat Atkinson 3,671		Terry Biddell 1,472		George Haines 1,068		Patrick L. Smith (NGA) 520 Dave Mathers (PC) 75		Pat Atkinson
Saskatoon Riversdale		Roy Romanow 3,130		Mark Coderre 1,060		David Pillipow 923		Neil Sinclair (NGA) 167 Glenn Schriener (PC) 127		Roy Romanow
Saskatoon Southeast		Pat Lorje 3,172		Dennis Reaburn 1,987		Grant Karwacki 3,134				Pat Lorje
Saskatoon Sutherland		Graham Addley 3,234		Robin Bellamy 2,778		Vernice McIntyre 1,268				Mark Koenker**

Regina

Electoral District	Candidates									Incumbent
		NDP		Sask. Party		Liberal		Other
Regina Centre		Joanne Crofford 3,265		Ryan LeBlond 926		Robert Jozsa 1,362		Barb Markewich (NGA) 534 Kenneth R. Johnson (PC) 177		Joanne Crofford
Regina Coronation Park		Kim Trew 3,297		Lyle Hewitt 1,517		Kathy Hill 1,391		Ian Kimball (PC) 112		Kim Trew
Regina Dewdney		Kevin Yates 2,687		Brent Shirkey 1,091		Hem Juttla 1,500		Victor Lau (NGA) 294 Kristian Eggum (PC) 130		Edwin Tchorzewski**
Regina Elphinstone		Dwain Lingenfelter 2,689		Jo Ann Mohr 1,168		Robert Ermel 1,109		John Warnock (NGA) 243 Brenda Rossow (PC) 56		Dwain Lingenfelter
Regina Lakeview		John Nilson 4,207		Randall Edge 1,741		Karen Pedersen 2,173		Wayne Gilmer (Ind.) 295 Brad Johnson (PC) 116		John Nilson
Regina Northeast		Ron Harper 3,193		Yvonne Mackie 1,566		John Patterson 1,327				Edward Shillington**
Regina Qu'Appelle Valley		Mark Wartman 3,641		Murray Hugel 2,251		Reina Sinclair 1,502				Suzanne Murray**
Regina Sherwood		Lindy Kasperski 3,090		Arlene Bray 1,549		Tom Crosby 1,369		George Marcotte (PC) 101		Lindy Kasperski
Regina South		Andrew Thomson 3,324		Terri Harris 2,533		David Huliyappa 2,390		Peter Borch (NGA) 278		Andrew Thomson
Regina Victoria		Harry Van Mulligen 3,231		Terry Wall 1,690		John Knight 1,608		Jim Elliott (NGA) 254		Harry Van Mulligen
Regina Wascana Plains		Doreen Hamilton 3,758		Dan Thibault 3,639		Adam Niesner 1,943				Doreen Hamilton

Wood River controversy

The Wood River electoral district in the wake of the 1999 general election endured a nine month crisis where it went without representation. On election night returns came back in favour of Saskatchewan Party candidate Yogi Huyghebaert who defeated incumbent Glen McPherson by just seven votes in unofficial returns. The close election results were challenged in the courts.

After five months a judicial decision came down and the results were certified on January 27, 2000. Saskatchewan Liberal Party incumbent Glen McPherson was declared by a judge the winner by a single vote defeating Yogi Huyghebaert from the Saskatchewan Party. The Saskatchewan Party decided to challenge the judicial decision, and it was overturned and dissolved based on irregularities in the absentee ballots.

The seat was dissolved and a by-election was called by Premier Roy Romanow on May 29, 2000. McPherson did not run in the subsequent by-election, choosing to reject the NDP-Liberal coalition. His candidacy for the Liberal party was replaced by Gerry Ruehs. Huyghebaert ended up winning the by-election.

References

• Elections Saskatchewan
• Saskatchewan Archives Board - Election Results By Electoral Division

See also

• List of Saskatchewan political parties
• List of Saskatchewan provincial electoral districts

External links

• Elections Saskatchewan
• Saskatchewan Archives Board - Election Results By Electoral Division