2003 Saskatchewan general election

thumb|Seating Plan After the Election

The 2003 Saskatchewan general election 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 several controversies. 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 that went bust in 2000.

New Liberal leader David Karwacki was elected on a platform of disbanding the coalition with the NDP. After ordering Liberal MLAs to leave government, MLAs Ron Osika and Jim Melenchuk left the party and continued to sit in government before ultimately joining the NDP.

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.

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. The election was ultimately decided in Regina Wascana Plains, which the NDP won by only 543 votes. Had the Saskatchewan Party won here, both parties would have had 29 seats each. All of the NDP's 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 as mentioned above it nearly won 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, shutting them out of the legislature for the first time since 1982. They would never again return to the legislature — in 2023 they re-branded as the Saskatchewan Progress Party.

Results

{| class="wikitable"

!rowspan=2 colspan=2|Party

!rowspan=2|Party leader

!rowspan=2|# of candidates

!colspan=4|Seats

!colspan=3|Popular vote

!1999

!Dissol.

!Elected

!% Change

| New Democratic

|align="center"| Lorne Calvert

|align="right"| 58

|align="right"|29

|align="right"|28

|align="right"| 30

|align="right"|+7.2%

|align="right"|190,923

|align="right"|44.68%

|align="right"|+5.95%

| Saskatchewan Party

|align="center"| Elwin Hermanson

|align="right"| 58

|align="right"|25

|align="right"|26

|align="right"| 28

|align="right"|+7.7%

|align="right"|168,144

|align="right"|39.35%

|align="right"|-0.26%

| Liberal

|align="center"| David Karwacki

|align="right"|58

|align="right"|4

|align="right"|1

|align="right"| –

|align="right"|-100%

|align="right"|60,601

|align="right"|14.18%

|align="right"|-5.97%

|align="center"| Bruce Ritter

|align="right"| 17

|align="right"|*

|align="right"|–

|align="right"|*

|align="right"|2,615

|align="right"|0.61%

|align="right"|*

|align="center"| Ben Webster

|align="right"| 27

|align="right"|–

|align="right"| –

|align="right"|–

|align="right"|2,323

|align="right"|0.55%

|align="right"|-0.46%

| colspan=2|Independent

|align="right"| 5

|align="right"|–

|align="right"|3

|align="right"| –

|align="right"|-100%

|align="right"|1,997

|align="right"|0.47%

|align="right"|+0.37%

| Progressive Conservative

|align="center"| Iris Dennis

|align="right"| 11

|align="right"|–

|align="right"|681

|align="right"|0.16%

|align="right"|-0.24

|colspan=3| Total

|align="right"| 234

|align="right"|58

|align="right"| 58

|align="right"| 

|align="right"|427,284

|align="right"|100%

|align="right"| 

| align="center" colspan=11|Source: Elections Saskatchewan

Note: <nowiki>*</nowiki> Party did not nominate candidates in previous election.

Percentages

Ranking

{| class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Party

!Seats

!Second

!Third

!Fourth

!Fifth

!Sixth

|New Democratic Party

|align=center|30

|align=center|28

|align=center|0

|Saskatchewan Party

|align=center|28

|align=center|26

|align=center|4

|align=center|0

|Liberal Party

|align=center|0

|align=center|4

|align=center|53

|align=center|1

|align=center|0

|align=center|21

|align=center|6

|align=center|0

|align=center|14

|align=center|2

|align=center|1

|Progressive Conservative

|align=center|0

|align=center|6

|align=center|5

|align=center|0

|Independent

|align=center|0

|align=center|1

|align=center|2

|align=center|0

6 closest constituencies

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)

|Arlene Julé**

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Kindersley

|Blair McDaid 1,443 (22.05%)

|Jason Dearborn 3,960 (60.50%)

|Del Price 1,142 (17.45%)

|Jason Dearborn

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|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

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Rosetown-Elrose

|Jack Randall Mason 2,200 (27.06%)

|Elwin Hermanson 5,173 (63.62%)

|Janay Volk 758 (9.32%)

|Elwin Hermanson Rosetown-Biggar

Southwest Saskatchewan

{|class="wikitable" style="width:100%"

! style="width:16%;" rowspan=3 colspan=2|Electoral District

!colspan=5|Candidates

! style="width:14%;" rowspan=3 colspan=2|Incumbent

!width=14% |New Democratic

!width=14% |Saskatchewan Party

!width=14% |Liberal

!width=14% |Western Independence

!width=14% |New Green Alliance

|width=14% | 

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cypress Hills

|Eric August 1,418 (20.81%)

|Wayne Elhard 4,458 (65.42%)

|Barry Thienes 938 (13.77%)

|Wayne Elhard

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Moose Jaw North

|Glenn Hagel 4,580 (57.86%)

|Darin Chow 2,838 (35.85%)

|Dean Legaré 431 (5.44%)

|Michael Wright 67 (0.85%)

|Glenn Hagel

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Moose Jaw Wakamow

|Deb Higgins 4,394 (62.60%)

|Gwen Beitel 2,129 (30.33%)

|Robert Cosman 429 (6.11%)

|Marcella Gall 67 (0.96%)

|Deb Higgins

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Swift Current

|Dean Smith 2,707 (36.64%)

|Brad Wall 4,312 (58.37%)

|Mike Burton 369 (4.99%)

|Brad Wall

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|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

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|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

{|class="wikitable" style="width:100%"

! style="width:16%;" rowspan=3 colspan=2|Electoral District

!colspan=5|Candidates

! style="width:14%;" rowspan=3 colspan=2|Incumbent

!width=14% |New Democratic

!width=14% |Saskatchewan Party

!width=14% |Liberal

!width=14% |Western Independence

!width=14% |Other

|width=14% | 

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Cannington

|Henry Friesen 1,569 (21.70%)

|Dan D'Autremont 5,115 (70.74%)

|John Atwell 547 (7.56%)

|Dan D'Autremont

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|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

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|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

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|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

| rowspan=3 style="background:whitesmoke;"|Melville-Saltcoats

|rowspan=3 | 

|rowspan=3|Ron Osika 2,858 (32.20%)

|rowspan=3|Bob Bjornerud 3,462 (39.01%)

|rowspan=3|Brian Tochor 880 (9.92%)

|rowspan=3|

|rowspan=3|Grant Schmidt (Ind.) 1,675 (18.87%)

|Ron Osika

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Saskatoon Nutana

|Pat Atkinson 4,593 (55.47%)

|Sandy Ewert 1,549 (18.71%)

|Grant Karwacki 1,946 (23.50%)

|Neal Anderson 192 (2.32%)

|Pat Atkinson

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Saskatoon Riversdale

|Lorne Calvert 3,608 (62.72%)

|Fred Ozirney 1,302 (22.63%)

|Deneen Gudjonson 754 (13.11%)

|Keith Morvick 52 (0.90%)

|Glen Schreiner 37 (0.64%)

|Lorne Calvert

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Saskatoon Silver Springs

|Russell Scott 3,490 (38.99%)

|Ken Cheveldayoff 4,005 (44.74%)

|Shawn Flett 1,457 (16.27%)

| colspan=2 style="background:whitesmoke; text-align:center;"|New District

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Saskatoon Southeast

|John Conway 2,738 (32.96%)

|Don Morgan 3,355 (40.38%)

|Zoria Broughton 2,164 (26.05%)

|Neil Sinclair 51 (0.61%)

|Pat Lorje**

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Saskatoon Sutherland

|Graham Addley 3,616 (46.59%)

|Patrick Bundrock 2,043 (26.32%)

|Mark Kelleher 1,988 (25.32%)

|Lynn Oliphant 114 (1.47%)

|Graham Addley

Regina

{|class="wikitable" style="width:100%"

! style="width:15%;" rowspan=3 colspan=2|Electoral District

!colspan=6|Candidates

! style="width:14%;" rowspan=3 colspan=2|Incumbent

!width=12% |New Democratic

!width=12% |Saskatchewan Party

!width=12% |Liberal

!width=12% |New Green Alliance

!width=12% |Progressive Conservative

!width=12% |Other

|width=12% | 

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Regina Coronation Park

|Kim Trew 4,439 (62.85%)

|Robert Taylor 1,665 (23.57%)

|Edgar Sauer 849 (12.02%)

|Kim Weiss 63 (0.89%)

|Kenneth Johnson 47 (0.67%)

|Kim Trew

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Regina Dewdney

|Kevin Yates 4,153 (55.08%)

|Rob Bresciani 2,148 (28.49%)

|Simone Clayton 1,165 (15.45%)

|Darcy Robillard 35 (0.46%)

|Blaine Gilbertson (Ind.) 39 (0.52%)

|Kevin Yates

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Regina Douglas Park

|Harry Van Mulligen 5,136 (57.26%)

|Laura Ross 1,900 (21.18%)

|Mike Farmer 1,703 (18.99%)

|Dave Orban 148 (1.65%)

|Wayne Mastrachuk 83 (0.92%)

|Harry Van Mulligen Regina Victoria

| rowspan=3 style="background:whitesmoke;"|Regina Elphinstone-Centre

|rowspan=3 | 

|rowspan=3|Warren McCall 3,078 (66.39%)

|rowspan=3|Angie Roe 792 (17.09%)

|rowspan=3|Paul Compton 574 (12.38%)

|rowspan=3|John Warnock 110 (2.37%)

|rowspan=3|Janice Schreiner 44 (0.95%)

|rowspan=3|Carl Barabonoff (WIP) 38 (0.82%)

|Warren McCall Regina Elphinstone

|colspan=2|Merged district

|Joanne Crofford Regina Centre

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Regina Lakeview

|John Nilson 4,988 (56.91%)

|Michelle Hunter 1,781 (20.32%)

|Dave Brundige 1,875 (21.39%)

|Brian Rands 121 (1.38%)

|John Nilson

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Regina Northeast

|Ron Harper 4,428 (61.30%)

|Dwayne Walter 1,637 (22.66%)

|Dennis Hydamacka 1,034 (14.31%)

|Susan Ferren 62 (0.86%)

|George Marcotte 63 (0.87%)

|Ron Harper

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Regina Qu'Appelle Valley

|Mark Wartman 4,694 (56.90%)

|Darlene Hincks 2,615 (31.70%)

|Marlin Belt 875 (10.60%)

|Kelsey Pearson 39 (0.47%)

|Angela Barabonoff (WIP) 27 (0.33%)

|Mark Wartman

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Regina Rosemont

|Joanne Crofford 4,226 (62.05%)

|Morris Elfenbaum 1,477 (21.69%)

|Sherry Banadyga 990 (14.54%)

|Victor Lau 76 (1.12%)

|Vanessa Slater 41 (0.60%)

| colspan=2 style="background:whitesmoke; text-align:center;"|New District

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Regina South

|Andrew Thomson 4,662 (49.47%)

|Jim Roberts 2,646 (28.08%)

|Debbie Ward 1,994 (21.16%)

|Garry Ewart 97 (1.03%)

|Shea Ritter (WIP) 25 (0.26%)

|Andrew Thomson

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Regina Walsh Acres

|Sandra Morin 4,594 (62.85%)

|Mike Shenher 1,693 (23.16%)

|Perry Juttla 766 (10.48%)

|Nigel Taylor 64 (0.88%)

|Lindy Kasperski (Ind.) 192 (2.63%)

|Lindy Kasperski Regina Sherwood

|bgcolor=whitesmoke|Regina Wascana Plains

|Doreen Hamilton 3,951 (43.38%)

|Dan Thibault 3,438 (37.75%)

|Frank William Proto 1,672 (18.36%)

|John Keen 47 (0.51%)

|Doreen Hamilton

Opinion polls

;CBC Saskatchewan (October 20 – 26, 2003)<nowiki>:</nowiki>

NDP – 42%

Saskatchewan Party – 39%

Liberals – 18%

Other – 1%

;Cutler Poll (October 29–November 5, 2003)<nowiki>:</nowiki>

NDP – 47%

Saskatchewan Party – 37%

Liberals – 14%

Other – 2%

References

Elections Saskatchewan: Twenty-Fifth Provincial General Election
Saskatchewan Archives Board - Election Results By Electoral Division

Notes

External links

CBC Digital Archives - Showdown on the Prairies: A History of Saskatchewan Elections

General resources

Government of Saskatchewan
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Legislature - Election 2003
Elections Saskatchewan
CBC - Saskatchewan Votes 2003

2003 Saskatchewan general election

Campaign

Results

Percentages

Ranking

6 closest constituencies

Southwest Saskatchewan

Southeast Saskatchewan

Regina

Opinion polls

See also

References

Notes

Further reading

External links

General resources

Parties

Parties with seats in the house prior to dissolution

Other parties

Other Saskatchewan political links