As the old saying goes, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, something the provincial NDP came to realize following Monday’s (Oct. 28) general election. Although the margin was a much more narrow majority (35 seats to the NDP’s 26 as of this week’s new deadline) than it was when the party was first elected in 2007 , the Saskatchewan Party became the first party in the province to win a fifth straight government since 1960. This means Premier Scott Moe will tie the record first held by former federal NDP leader Tommy Douglas, who led the Cooperative Commonwealth from 1942 until the end of 1961.
“What a great day to be in Saskatchewan,” Moe told reporters Tuesday morning (Oct. 29). “First of all, to all the people of Saskatchewan, all who exercise their democratic right to vote and voted for a strong economy and a bright future in our province, thank you once again, Saskatchewan, for placing your trust in our party, in the Saskatchewan Party and thank-you for electing a majority Saskatchewan Party.” Locally, Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison was re-elected. Based on the first preliminary vote count, Harrison received 4,010 votes to NDP candidate Mies Nachbaur’s 2,010, Saskatchewan United Party candidate Denis Allchurch’s 296 and Green Party candidate Candice Turner’s 101.
“I want to say thank you so much to everybody here,” Harrison told a crowd of supporters who gathered Monday night at The Bear’s Den in Meadow Lake to celebrate both his win, as well as the party’s overall victory. “We are very grateful for the work and support you guys have shown over many, many years. This is our seventh campaign I have been a candidate in, and it’ only because of you – our volunteers and campaign team – we have been able to be successful.” Harrison also expressed his gratitude to local constituents. “I am deeply honoured to represent the constituents of Meadow Lake and I look forward to representing you for the next four years,” he added. “They put their faith in our team and we look forward to that continuing over the next number of years.”
Refocusing on the members of his campaign team, Harrison reiterated how much their work has meant to him. “There’s been a number of you who have been on the team now for 20 years,” he said. Harrison also thanked his parents, Tom and Lorna, his wife, Alaina, and children, MacGregor and Finnley, as well as his close friends, Gary and Lori Vidal. “Gary and Lori, thank you so much for everything over 20 years,” Harrison said “Thank you for your the service you have provided and will continue to provide… Alaina and I can’t say enough how much we appreciate your friendship and how much we look up to you. I appreciate everyone here, I genuinely do, and I look forward to the path forward.”
Meanwhile, Nachbaur, who diligently campaigned leading up to the election, also expressed his gratitude to those who supported him. “While it was not the result we hoped for, I am still proud of the campaign we ran,” Nachbaur shared via social media. “Thank you to (my wife), Sherry Nachbaur, (and children), Hunter, Kai, and Brea, for your patience this last month. To Trevor (Dignean) and the rest of the team as well, nothing but love and appreciation. We will spend the next four years continuing to build one conversation at a time.”
The Saskatchewan Party’s win, however, did not come at the expense of some losses, including a handful of cabinet ministers. Laura Ross, who was minister of parks, culture and sport, as well as responsible for the Status of Women, Francophone Affairs, and Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan, was the first to go down nearly three hours after polls closed. Social services minister Gene Makowski, environment minister Christine Tell, corrections, policing and public safety minister Paul Merriman and justice minister Bronwyn Eyre lost their seats as well.