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2003 Saskatchewan general election

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2003 Saskatchewan general election

← 1999 November 5, 2003 (2003-11-05) 2007 ⊟

58 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
30 seats needed for a majority
Turnout70.9% [1] (Increase5.4pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
LIB
Leader Lorne Calvert Elwin Hermanson David Karwacki
Party New Democratic Saskatchewan Liberal
Leader since January 27, 2001 April 20, 1998 October 27, 2001
Leader's seat Saskatoon Riversdale Rosetown-Elrose Ran in Saskatoon Meewasin (lost)
Last election 29 25 4
Seats before 28 26 1
Seats won 30 28 0
Seat change Increase2 Increase2 Decrease4
Popular vote 190,923 168,144 60,601
Percentage 44.68% 39.35% 14.18%
Swing Increase5.95pp Decrease0.26% Decrease5.97pp

Popular vote by riding. As this is an FPTP election, seat totals are not determined by popular vote, but instead via results by each riding.

Premier before election

Lorne Calvert
New Democratic

Premier after election

Lorne Calvert
New Democratic

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

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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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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

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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%
  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.

Percentages

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Popular vote
New Democratic
44.68%
Saskatchewan
39.35%
Liberal
14.18%
Others
1.79%
Seats summary
New Democratic
51.72%
Saskatchewan
48.28%

Ranking

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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
  Progressive Conservative 0 0 0 6 5 0
  Independent 0 0 1 2 2 0

6 closest constituencies

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  1. Lloydminster: Milt Wakefield (SK Party) def. Wayne Byers (NDP) by 64 votes
  2. Humboldt: Donna Harpauer (SK Party) def. Bryan Barnes (NDP) by 173 votes
  3. Saskatoon Northwest: Ted Merriman (SK Party) def. Jim Melenchuk (Ind.-NDP)[5] by 266 votes
  4. Carrot River Valley: Allan Kerpan (SK Party) def. Mark Pitzel (NDP) by 360 votes
  5. Weyburn-Big Muddy: Brenda Bakken (SK Party) def. Sherry Leach (NDP) by 385 votes
  6. Meadow Lake: Maynard Sonntag (NDP) def. Ron Dosdall (SK Party) by 414 votes

Riding-by-riding results

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

Northwest Saskatchewan

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Electoral District Candidates Incumbent
New Democratic Saskatchewan
Party
Liberal Western
Independence
Progressive
Conservative
         
Athabasca   Buckley Belanger
2,508 (70.67%)
Greg Ross
806 (22.71%)
Philip Derocher
212 (5.97%)
Sean Gilchrist
23 (0.65%)
  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   Maynard Sonntag
3,472 (50.27%)
Ron Dosdall
3,058 (44.27%)
Don Coupland
377(5.46%)
  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   Len Taylor
3,056 (42.53%)
Larry Doke
1,856 (25.83%)
Jack Hillson
2,134 (29.70%)
Gordon Elias
139 (1.94%)
  Jack Hillson
North Battleford

Northeast Saskatchewan

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Electoral District Candidates Incumbent
New Democratic Saskatchewan
Party
Liberal New Green
Alliance
Other
         
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   Joan Beatty
3,281 (68.96%)
Winston McKay
1,035 (21.75%)
Allan Adam
388 (8.16%)
Ari Avivi (PC)
54 (1.13%)
  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   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%)
  Myron Kowalsky
Prince Albert Northcote   Eldon Lautermilch
3,286 (56.89%)
Peter Abrametz
1,554 (28.90%)
Brent Zbaraschuk
783 (13.56%)
Ben Webster
153 (2.65%)
  Eldon Lautermilch
Saskatchewan Rivers   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

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Electoral District Candidates Incumbent
New Democratic Saskatchewan
Party
Liberal Western
Independence
Other
         
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%)
  Randy Weekes
Redberry Lake
Humboldt   Bryan Barnes
3,291 (39.89%)
Donna Harpauer
3,464 (41.99%)
Les Alm
1,495 (18.12%)
Del Anderson
138
[6]
  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%)
  Elwin Hermanson
Rosetown-Biggar

Southwest Saskatchewan

[edit]
Electoral District Candidates Incumbent
New Democratic Saskatchewan
Party
Liberal Western
Independence
New Green
Alliance
         
Cypress Hills   Eric August
1,418 (20.81%)
Wayne Elhard
4,458 (65.42%)
Barry Thienes
938 (13.77%)
  Wayne Elhard
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
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
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

[edit]
Electoral District Candidates Incumbent
New Democratic Saskatchewan
Party
Liberal Western
Independence
Other
         
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%)
  Ron Osika[5]
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   Clay Serby
3,993 (51.53%)
Randy Atkinson
3,163 (40.82%)
Chuck Gunning
371 (4.79%)
Bruce Ritter
222 (2.86%)
  Clay Serby

Saskatoon

[edit]
Electoral District Candidates Incumbent
New Democratic Saskatchewan
Party
Liberal New Green
Alliance
Progressive
Conservative
         
Saskatoon Centre   David Forbes
3,607 (61.85%)
Roger Parent
1,165 (19.98%)
Richard Clatney
907 (15.55%)
Betty Korkin
153 (2.62%)
  David Forbes
Saskatoon Idylwyld
Saskatoon Eastview   Judy Junor
4,164 (44.64%)
Robin Bellamy
2,572 (27.57%)
Rob Norris
2,482 (26.61%)
Sandy Ervin
110 (1.18%)
  Judy Junor
Saskatoon Fairview   Andy Iwanchuk
3,105 (55.28%)
Jim McAllister
1,383 (24.62%)
Rik Steernburg
1,037 (18.46%)
Jason Hanson
41 (0.73%)
Gwen Katzman
51 (0.91%)
  Andy Iwanchuk
Saskatoon Greystone   Peter Prebble
4,317 (49.16%)
Kevin Waugh
2,855 (32.51%)
Herta Barron
1,558 (17.74%)
Brian Berezowski
50 (0.59%)
  Peter Prebble
Saskatoon Massey Place   Eric Cline
4,023 (61.40%)
Philipp Strenger
1,413 (21.57%)
Myron Luzkca
970 (14.80%)
Ryan John Taylor
61 (0.93%)
David Connor
85 (1.30%)
  Eric Cline
Saskatoon Mount Royal
Saskatoon Meewasin   Frank Quennell
3,256 (40.88%)
Shelley Hengen
1,989 (24.98%)
David Karwacki
2,642 (33.17%)
David Greenfield
77 (0.97%)
  Carolyn Jones**
Saskatoon Northwest   Jim Melenchuk
2,943 (37.35%)
Ted Merriman
3,209 (40.72%)
Ken McDonough
1,728 (21.93%)
  Jim Melenchuk[5]
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
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
Saskatoon Silver Springs   Russell Scott
3,490 (38.99%)
Ken Cheveldayoff
4,005 (44.74%)
Shawn Flett
1,457 (16.27%)
New District
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**
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

[edit]
Electoral District Candidates Incumbent
New Democratic Saskatchewan
Party
Liberal New Green
Alliance
Progressive
Conservative
Other
           
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
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
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
Regina Elphinstone-Centre   Warren McCall
3,078 (66.39%)
Angie Roe
792 (17.09%)
Paul Compton
574 (12.38%)
John Warnock
110 (2.37%)
Janice Schreiner
44 (0.95%)
Carl Barabonoff (WIP)
38 (0.82%)
  Warren McCall
Regina Elphinstone
Merged district
  Joanne Crofford
Regina Centre
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
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
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
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%)
New District
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
Regina Walsh Acres   Sandra Morin
4,863 (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[7]
Regina Sherwood
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

[edit]
CBC Saskatchewan (October 20 – 26, 2003):

NDP – 42%
Saskatchewan Party – 39%
Liberals – 18%
Other – 1%

Cutler Poll (October 29–November 5, 2003):

NDP – 47%
Saskatchewan Party – 37%
Liberals – 14%
Other – 2%

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Voter turnout figures for 28th Saskatchewan election released". Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  2. ^ "'SPUDCO' CHRONOLOGY" (PDF). Prairie Policy Centre. September 11, 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  3. ^ "Former Liberals join Sask. NDP". The Globe and Mail. September 5, 2003. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "Sask. NDP distances itself from 'Holocaust' cartoon". CBC News. October 15, 2003. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "VOIDED – Candidacy Withdrawn" (see "Humboldt" under Elections Saskatchewan: Twenty-Fifth Provincial General Election Archived 2011-05-15 at the Wayback Machine.)
  7. ^ 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.

Further reading

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General resources

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Parties

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Parties with seats in the house prior to dissolution

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Other parties

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