2003 Saskatchewan general election
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58 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan 30 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Saskatchewan general election of 2003 was the twenty-fifth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on November 5, 2003, to elect the 58 members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan (MLAs). The election was called on October 8 by Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Lynda Haverstock, on the advice of Premier Lorne Calvert.
Campaign
Going into the election, the popularity of the New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan (NDP) had declined because of controversy on a number of issues. Voters in this agrarian province were disgruntled because of a mediocre harvest, a disastrous summer for cattle producers – the American border had been closed to Canadian beef due to fears of mad cow disease, and the actions of a member of the NDP Cabinet who was found to have misled the people of the province on the nature of the Saskatchewan Potato Utility Development Company ("SPUDCO"), a publicly owned potato company that was inappropriately characterized as a public-private partnership.[1]
Election issues included emigration (the province's population was falling because young people were leaving the province to look for work), honesty and integrity, privatization of public inter-city transit and energy supplies, and utility rates.
During the campaign, the NDP was attacked for an internal cartoon that had been leaked to the media. It depicted Saskatchewan Party leader Elwin Hermanson directing persons labeled 'NDP sympathizers' onto railway boxcars. The cartoon referred to speculation that, if elected, Hermanson would replace civil servants who were NDP supporters with Saskatchewan Party supporters. However, many associated it with the Holocaust – in particular Nazi Germany's deportation of Jews to concentration camps.[2]
The campaign as a whole was seen as being quite negative, as the NDP constantly claimed that the Saskatchewan Party had a 'secret agenda' to privatize crown corporations to finance large tax cuts for business; the Saskatchewan Party had a difficult time refuting these claims, as several party members made comments that seemed consistent with this view.
Unlike many of the other provincial elections held in 2003, the election was widely regarded as too close to call up until a large proportion of the polls had reported. To the surprise of observers who believed the NDP would be affected by the poor pre-election conditions, the NDP won its fourth term in government. It actually picked up the one seat it needed for a bare majority. All of its cabinet ministers were re-elected; except for two who had defected to the party from the Liberals.
The Saskatchewan Party cemented its grip on most of the rural seats, yet was unable to make further gains in urban areas. It won two additional seats in Saskatoon, but was completely shut out in Regina (though it came within 543 votes of winning Regina Wascana Plains). Believing he had taken the party as far as he could, Hermanson resigned as leader on November 18, 2003.
Although speculation was high that they could form the balance of power in the case of a minority government, the Liberals lost their one seat.
Results
| Party | Party leader | # of candidates |
Seats | Popular vote | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Dissol. | Elected | % Change | # | % | % Change | New Democratic | Lorne Calvert | 58 | 29 | 28 | 30 | +7.2% | 190,923 | 44.68% | +5.95% | ||||||||||||||
| Saskatchewan Party | Elwin Hermanson | 58 | 25 | 26 | 28 | +7.7% | 168,144 | 39.35% | -0.26% | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Liberal | David Karwacki | 58 | 4 | 1 | – | -100% | 60,601 | 14.18% | -5.97% | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Independence | Bruce Ritter | 17 | * | – | – | * | 2,615 | 0.61% | * | |||||||||||||||||||||
| New Green | Ben Webster | 27 | – | – | – | – | 2,323 | 0.55% | -0.46% | Independent | 5 | – | 3 | – | -100% | 1,997 | 0.47% | +0.37%
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Progressive Conservatives/row |
Progressive Conservative | Iris Dennis | 11 | – | – | – | – | 681 | 0.16% | -0.24 | ||
| Total | 234 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 427,284 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: * Party did not nominate candidates in previous election.
Ranking
| Party | Seats | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Sixth | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic Party | 30 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Saskatchewan Party | 28 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Liberal Party | 0 | 4 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| New Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Western Independence | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 1
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Progressive Conservatives/row |
Progressive Conservative | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | Independent | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
6 closest ridings
- Lloydminster: Milt Wakefield (SK Party) def. Wayne Byers (NDP) by 64 votes
- Humboldt: Donna Harpauer (SK Party) def. Bryan Barnes (NDP) by 173 votes
- Saskatoon Northwest: Ted Merriman (SK Party) def. Jim Melenchuk (Ind.-NDP)[3] by 266 votes
- Carrot River Valley: Allan Kerpan (SK Party) def. Mark Pitzel (NDP) by 360 votes
- Weyburn-Big Muddy: Brenda Bakken (SK Party) def. Sherry Leach (NDP) by 385 votes
- Meadow Lake: Maynard Sonntag (NDP) def. Ron Dosdall (SK Party) by 414 votes
Riding-by-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 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party |
Liberal | Western Independence |
Progressive Conservative | ||||
| width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal| | width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Progressive Conservatives| | ||||||
| Athabasca | Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Buckley Belanger 2,508 (70.67%) |
Greg Ross 806 (22.71%) |
Philip Derocher 212 (5.97%) |
Sean Gilchrist 23 (0.65%) |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Buckley Belanger | |
| Cut Knife-Turtleford | John Vinek 2,520 (39.02%) |
Michael Chisholm 3,114 (48.21%) |
Larry Ingram 649 (10.05%) |
Josiah Rise 176 (2.72%) |
Wally Lorenz** Battleford-Cut Knife | |||
| Lloydminster | Wayne Byers 1,926 (47.98%) |
Milt Wakefield 1,990 (49.58%) |
Richard Sparks 98 (2.44%) |
Milt Wakefield | ||||
| Meadow Lake | Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Maynard Sonntag 3,472 (50.27%) |
Ron Dosdall 3,058 (44.27%) |
Don Coupland 377(5.46%) |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Maynard Sonntag | ||
| Rosthern-Shellbrook | John Serhienko 2,598 (36.54%) |
Denis Allchurch 3,604 (50.69%) |
George Cameron 747 (10.51%) |
Laverne Isaac 161 (2.26%) |
Ben Heppner Rosthern | |||
| Merged district | ||||||||
| Denis Allchurch Shellbrook-Spiritwood | ||||||||
| The Battlefords | Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Len Taylor 3,056 (42.53%) |
Larry Doke 1,856 (25.83%) |
Jack Hillson 2,134 (29.70%) |
Gordon Elias 139 (1.94%) |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal| | Jack Hillson North Battleford | |
Northeast Saskatchewan
| Electoral District | Candidates | Incumbent | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party |
Liberal | New Green Alliance |
Other | ||||
| width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal| | width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Independents| | ||||||
| Batoche | Ava Bear 2,778 (36.32%) |
Delbert Kirsch 3,356 (43.87%) |
Bill Yeaman 1,300 (16.99%) |
Gordon Robert Dumont 76 (0.99%) |
Florence Rabut (WIP) 140 (1.83%) |
New District | ||
| Canora-Pelly | Brian Rusnak 3,008 (37.80%) |
Ken Krawetz 4,198 (52.75%) |
Arlene Cote 580 (7.29%) |
David Sawkiw (WIP) 172 (2.16%) |
Ken Krawetz | |||
| Carrot River Valley | Mark Pitzel 3,114 (42.02%) |
Allan Kerpan 3,474 (46.88%) |
Kathy McIntyre 823 (11.10%) |
Allan Kerpan | ||||
| Cumberland | Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Joan Beatty 3,281 (68.96%) |
Winston McKay 1,035 (21.75%) |
Allan Adam 388 (8.16%) |
Ari Avivi (PC) 54 (1.13%) |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Keith Goulet** | |
| Kelvington-Wadena | Ryan Calder 2,461 (31.43%) |
June Draude 4,515 (57.66%) |
Harry Kerr 542 (6.92%) |
Neil Fenske (WIP) 312 (3.99%) |
June Draude | |||
| Melfort | Garnet Davis 2,833 (38.25%) |
Rod Gantefoer 4,060 (54.82%) |
Bernie Yuzdepski 513 (6.93%) |
Rod Gantefoer Melfort-Tisdale | ||||
| Prince Albert Carlton | Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Myron Kowalsky 3,865 (58.59%) |
Bert Provost 1,891 (28.66%) |
Carman Cripps 744 (11.28%) |
Jayna Lacey 71 (1.08%) |
Davey Clinton (Ind.) 26 (0.39%) |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Myron Kowalsky |
| Prince Albert Northcote | Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Eldon Lautermilch 3,286 (56.89%) |
Peter Abrametz 1,554 (28.90%) |
Brent Zbaraschuk 783 (13.56%) |
Ben Webster 153 (2.65%) |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Eldon Lautermilch | |
| Saskatchewan Rivers | Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Lon Borgerson 3,446 (47.65%) |
Daryl Wiberg 2,833 (39.27%) |
Cliff Rose 765 (10.58%) |
Gerald Regnitter 188 (2.60%) |
Daryl Wiberg | ||
West Central Saskatchewan
| Electoral District | Candidates | Incumbent | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party |
Liberal | Western Independence |
Other | ||||
| width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal| | width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Independents| | ||||||
| Arm River-Watrous | Carol Rowan 3,193 (38.23%) |
Greg Brkich 4,009 (48.01%) |
Steven Barlow 922 (11.04%) |
Gord Anderson 162 (1.94%) |
Gord Pederson (Ind.) 65 (0.78%) |
Greg Brkich Arm River | ||
| Merged district | ||||||||
| Donna Harpauer Watrous | ||||||||
| Biggar | Lee Pearce 2,639 (36.11%) |
Randy Weekes 3,917 (53.61%) |
Steven Dribnenki 751 (10.28%) |
New District | ||||
| Humboldt | Bryan Barnes 3,291 (39.89%) |
Donna Harpauer 3,464 (41.99%) |
Les Alm 1,495 (18.12%) |
138 |
Arlene Julé** | |||
| Kindersley | Blair McDaid 1,443 (22.05%) |
Jason Dearborn 3,960 (60.50%) |
Del Price 1,142 (17.45%) |
Jason Dearborn | ||||
| Martensville | Zane Dmytryshyn 1,836 (26.87%) |
Ben Heppner 3,778 (55.28%) |
Allan Earle 1,135 (16.61%) |
Warren Fehr 85 (1.24%) |
Ben Heppner Rosthern | |||
| Rosetown-Elrose | Jack Randall Mason 2,200 (27.06%) |
Elwin Hermanson 5,173 (63.62%) |
Janay Volk 758 (9.32%) |
New District | ||||
Southwest Saskatchewan
| Electoral District | Candidates | Incumbent | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party |
Liberal | Western Independence |
New Green Alliance | ||||
| width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal| | |||||||
| Cypress Hills | Eric August 1,418 (20.81%) |
Wayne Elhard 4,458 (65.42%) |
Barry Thienes 938 (13.77%) |
Wayne Elhard | ||||
| Moose Jaw North | Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Glenn Hagel 4,580 (57.86%) |
Darin Chow 2,838 (35.85%) |
Dean Legaré 431 (5.44%) |
Michael Wright 67 (0.85%) |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Glenn Hagel | |
| Moose Jaw Wakamow | Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Deb Higgins 4,394 (62.60%) |
Gwen Beitel 2,129 (30.33%) |
Robert Cosman 429 (6.11%) |
Marcella Gall 67 (0.96%) |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Deb Higgins | |
| Swift Current | Dean Smith 2,707 (36.64%) |
Brad Wall 4,312 (58.37%) |
Mike Burton 369 (4.99%) |
Brad Wall | ||||
| Thunder Creek | Larry Hall 2,572 (30.92%) |
Lyle Stewart 4,450 (53.50%) |
Rod Haugerud 1,132 (13.61%) |
Harold Stephan 164 (1.97%) |
Lyle Stewart | |||
| Wood River | Trevor Davies 2,043 (25.98%) |
Yogi Huyghebaert 4,350 (55.32%) |
Louis Stringer 1,264 (16.07%) |
Nick Yorga 207 (2.63%) |
Yogi Huyghebaert | |||
Southeast Saskatchewan
| Electoral District | Candidates | Incumbent | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party |
Liberal | Western Independence |
Other | ||||
| width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal| | width=14% Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Independents| | ||||||
| Cannington | Henry Friesen 1,569 (21.70%) |
Dan D'Autremont 5,115 (70.74%) |
John Atwell 547 (7.56%) |
Dan D'Autremont | ||||
| Estevan | David Pattyson 2,154 (31.39%) |
Doreen Eagles 3,522 (51.32%) |
Tim Seipp 1,095 (15.96%) |
Sigfredo Gonzales (NGA) 91 (1.33%) |
Doreen Eagles | |||
| Indian Head-Milestone | Lorne Scott 3,258 (39.43%) |
Don McMorris 4,070 (49.26%) |
Anthony Gavrielides 724 (8.76%) |
Ron Borys 211 (2.55%) |
Don McMorris | |||
| Last Mountain-Touchwood | Jordon Hillier 3,055 (39.75%) |
Glen Hart 3,722 (48.42%) |
Greg Burton 704 (9.16%) |
Merv Werk 205 (2.67%) |
Glen Hart | |||
| Melville-Saltcoats | Ron Osika 2,858 (32.20%) |
Bob Bjornerud 3,462 (39.01%) |
Brian Tochor 880 (9.92%) |
Grant Schmidt (Ind.) 1,675 (18.87%) |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Independents| | Ron Osika[3] Melville | ||
| Merged district | ||||||||
| Bob Bjornerud Saltcoats | ||||||||
| Moosomin | Robert Stringer 2,268 (30.89%) |
Don Toth 4,400 (59.92%) |
Bryn Hirsch 506 (6.89%) |
Frank Serfas 169 (2.30%) |
Don Toth | |||
| Weyburn-Big Muddy | Sherry Leach 3,491 (40.64%) |
Brenda Bakken 3,876 (45.12%) |
Janet Ledingham 1,223 (14.24%) |
Brenda Bakken | ||||
| Yorkton | Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Clay Serby 3,993 (51.53%) |
Randy Atkinson 3,163 (40.82%) |
Chuck Gunning 371 (4.79%) |
Bruce Ritter 222 (2.86%) |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP| | Clay Serby | |
Saskatoon
Regina
See also
References
- Elections Saskatchewan: Twenty-Fifth Provincial General Election
- Saskatchewan Archives Board - Election Results By Electoral Division
Notes
- ^ "'SPUDCO' CHRONOLOGY" (PDF). Prairie Policy Centre. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
- ^ "Sask. NDP distances itself from 'Holocaust' cartoon". CBC News. October 15, 2003. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ a b c One of two members elected as Liberals and joined into coalition with the NDP. Refused to leave the coalition after David Karwacki became Liberal leader and ordered all members to do so. Subsequently sat as an Independent. Ran for the NDP in this election.
- ^ "VOIDED – Candidacy Withdrawn" (see "Humboldt" under Elections Saskatchewan: Twenty-Fifth Provincial General Election.)
- ^ Suspended from the NDP caucus after being charged with fraud. After he was acquitted, he was offered reinstatement, but refused in the face of a difficult re-nomination fight in his constituency. He ran in the election as an Independent.
External links
General resources
- Government of Saskatchewan
- Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
- Elections Saskatchewan
- CBC - Saskatchewan Votes 2003
Parties
Parties with seats in the house prior to dissolution
- Saskatchewan New Democratics (see also New Democratic Party)
- Saskatchewan Party
- Liberal Party of Saskatchewan (see also Liberal Party of Canada)
Other parties
Other Saskatchewan political links
- Saskatchewan NDP Caucus
- Lorne Calvert, NDP MLA for Saskatoon Riversdale
- Judy Junor, NDP MLA for Saskatoon Eastview
- David Forbes, NDP MLA for Saskatoon Centre
| General elections | |
|---|---|
| By-elections | |
| Municipal elections | |
