1999 Saskatchewan general election

Template:Short description Template:Use Canadian English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox election The 1999 Saskatchewan general election was held on September 16, 1999 to elect members of the 24th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. The new Saskatchewan Party took more votes than any other party but the NDP took more seats, taking half the seats in the Saskatchewan Legislature. The NDP formed a coalition with four elected Liberal Party MLAs to hold majority government.

Polls during the campaign indicated strong levels of support for the New Democratic Party government.<ref name="poll">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="polls">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, facing the fallout of a poor crop growing season and a scandal involving the Crown Corporation electric utility 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 when much of the Progressive Conservative caucus joined forces with 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%. However, this was only enough for 25 seats, five short of making Hermanson premier. This was mainly because it was almost nonexistent in the province's more urban areas; it was completely shut out in Regina and won only one seat in Saskatoon.

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

Some NDP 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.

What remained of the Progressive Conservatives fielded 14 paper candidates – all in NDP strongholds – in order to preserve their status as a registered political party. The Tories did not actively campaign and won only a few votes.

To date, this is the most recent general election to return MLAs who were members of neither the NDP nor the Saskatchewan Party.

File:Sleg99.PNG

Seating Plan After the Election

Opinion polls

Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level

Polling firm	Last day of survey	Source	SNDP	SP	SLP	NGA	PCPS	Other	Template:Abbr	Sample
			style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"|	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"|	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"|	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"|	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"|	style="background:Template:Canadian party colour;" data-sort-type="number"|
Election 1999	September 16, 1999		38.73	39.61	20.15	1.01	0.40	0.10
Feedback Research	September 12, 1999	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	43	37	18	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	3.2	1,000
UCAL Management Consultants	September 10, 1999	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	50	29	19	3	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	3.1	1,003
Angus Reid	September 2, 1999	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	47	35	14	2	Template:N/A	2	3.5	800
UCAL Management Consultants	August 26, 1999	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	48.9	30.4	18.9	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	3.1	1,004
Saskatchewan Party founded (August 8, 1997)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Compas	April 28, 1996	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	47	Template:N/A	18	Template:N/A	25	Template:N/A	10	100
Election 1995	June 21, 1995		47.21	—	34.70	—	17.92	0.17

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%	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	581	–	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.

Ranking

Template:Canadian party colour

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	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
		New Democratic	Saskatchewan Party	Liberal	New Green Alliance
		width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|
Athabasca	Template:Canadian party colour|	Buckley Belanger 2,512	Bert Roach 76	Allan Adam 389		Template:Canadian party colour|	Buckley Belanger
Battleford-Cut Knife	Template:Canadian party colour|	Sharon Murrell 2,438	Rudi Peters 3,107	Gary McArthur 1,242		Template:Canadian party colour|	Sharon Murrell
Lloydminster	Template:Canadian party colour|	Violet Stanger 2,135	Milton Wakefield 2,928	Larry Ingram 458		Template:Canadian party colour|	Violet Stanger
Meadow Lake	Template:Canadian party colour|	Maynard Sonntag 2,846	Bob Young 2,523	Don Coupland 722		Template:Canadian party colour|	Maynard Sonntag
North Battleford	Template:Canadian party colour|	Kim Newsham 2,672	Josiah Rise 1,026	Jack Hillson 3,478		Template:Canadian party colour|	Jack Hillson
Redberry Lake	Template:Canadian party colour|	Walter Jess 2,444	Randy Weekes 3,860	Harry Lewchuk 1,082	Ivan Olynyk 162	Template:Canadian party colour|	Walter Jess
Rosthern	Template:Canadian party colour|	Nadia Willard 1,828	Ben Heppner 4,331	Warren McCloud 690		Template:Canadian party colour|	Ben Heppner
Shellbrook-Spiritwood	Template:Canadian party colour|	Lloyd Johnson 2,594	Denis Allchurch 2,895	Walter Krushelniski 1,223		Template:Canadian party colour|	Lloyd Johnson

Northeast Saskatchewan

Electoral District		Candidates				Incumbent
		New Democratic	Saskatchewan Party	Liberal	Progressive Conservative
		width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|
Carrot River Valley	Template:Canadian party colour|	Andy Renaud 2,803	Carl Kwiatkowski 3,582	Ron Wassill 667		Template:Canadian party colour|	Andy Renaud
Cumberland	Template:Canadian party colour|	Keith Goulet 2,402	Don Johannesson 336	Winston McKay 627	Quentin Agnew 117	Template:Canadian party colour|	Keith Goulet
Melfort-Tisdale	Template:Canadian party colour|	Carol Carson 2,489	Rod Gantefoer 4,096	Ken Magnus 1,310		Template:Canadian party colour|	Rod Gantefoer
Prince Albert Carlton	Template:Canadian party colour|	Myron Kowalsky 3,157	Bert Provost 1,742	Dan Pinto 943		Template:Canadian party colour|	Myron Kowalsky
Prince Albert Northcote	Template:Canadian party colour|	Eldon Lautermilch 2,485	Pauline Provost 754	Jim Stiglitz 1,632	Kevin Shiach 135	Template:Canadian party colour|	Eldon Lautermilch
Saskatchewan Rivers	Template:Canadian party colour|	Jack Langford 2,892	Daryl Wiberg 3,048	Stan Kowal 852		Template:Canadian party colour|	Jack Langford

East Central Saskatchewan

Electoral District		Candidates				Incumbent
		New Democratic	Saskatchewan Party	Liberal	Other
		width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|
Canora-Pelly	Template:Canadian party colour|	Bill Dodge 2,195	Ken Krawetz 4,529	Richard McLeod 935	David Sawkiw (Ind.) 127	Template:Canadian party colour|	Ken Krawetz
Humboldt	Template:Canadian party colour|	Armand Roy 2,978	Arlene Julé 3,821	Joanne Perreault 1,459	Ron Schriml (NGA) 250	Template:Canadian party colour|	Arlene Julé
Kelvington-Wadena	Template:Canadian party colour|	Doug Still 2,152	June Draude 5,045	Sean Macknak 488		Template:Canadian party colour|	June Draude
Last Mountain-Touchwood	Template:Canadian party colour|	Dale Flavel 2,909	Glen Hart 3,816	Ken Kluz 1,363		Template:Canadian party colour|	Dale Flavel
Watrous	Template:Canadian party colour|	Eric Upshall 2,928	Donna Harpauer 3,572	Ray Hall 1,437		Template:Canadian party colour|	Eric Upshall
Yorkton	Template:Canadian party colour|	Clay Serby 2,893	Lorne Gogal 2,587	Richard Yaholnitsky 1,578		Template:Canadian party colour|	Clay Serby

Southwest Saskatchewan

Electoral District		Candidates				Incumbent
		New Democratic	Saskatchewan Party	Liberal	Other
		width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|
Arm River	Template:Canadian party colour|	Ron Bishoff 2,110	Greg Brkich 3,696	Harvey McLane 2,624		Template:Canadian party colour|	Harvey McLane
Cypress Hills	Template:Canadian party colour|	Keith Murch 1,368	Wayne Elhard 4,138	Barry Thienes 1,097		Template:Canadian party colour|	Wayne Elhard1
Kindersley	Template:Canadian party colour|	Bill Rosher 1,444	Bill Boyd 4,491	Vaughn Biberdorf 1,140		Template:Canadian party colour|	Bill Boyd
Moose Jaw North	Template:Canadian party colour|	Glenn Hagel 3,451	Alene Tanner 2,772	Tatum Benz 591		Template:Canadian party colour|	Glenn Hagel
Moose Jaw Wakamow	Template:Canadian party colour|	Deb Higgins 3,111	Doris Dunphy 1,892	Marlin Belt 668	Vanessa Slater (PC) 99	Template:Canadian party colour|	Lorne Calvert**
Rosetown-Biggar	Template:Canadian party colour|	Berny Wiens 2,801	Elwin Hermanson 4,907	John Hendrickson 548	Rick Barsky (NGA) 75	Template:Canadian party colour|	Berny Wiens
Swift Current	Template:Canadian party colour|	John Wall 2,538	Brad Wall 4,600	Rhonda Thompson 1,269		Template:Canadian party colour|	John Wall
Thunder Creek	Template:Canadian party colour|	Ivan Costley 1,496	Lyle Stewart 3,969	Gerard Aldridge 2,031		Template:Canadian party colour|	Gerard Aldridge
Wood River2	Template:Canadian party colour|	Robert Anderson 1,608	Yogi Huyghebaert 3,139	Glen McPherson 3,132		Template:Canadian party colour|	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
		New Democratic	Saskatchewan Party	Liberal	New Green Alliance
		width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|
Cannington	Template:Canadian party colour|	Glen Lawson 1,104	Dan D'Autremont 5,671	Joanne Johnston 798		Template:Canadian party colour|	Dan D'Autremont
Estevan	Template:Canadian party colour|	Larry Ward 1,484	Doreen Eagles 3,577	Neil Collins 2,440	Sigfredo Gonzalez 130	Template:Canadian party colour|	Larry Ward
Indian Head-Milestone	Template:Canadian party colour|	Lorne Scott 2,305	Don McMorris 3,877	Larry Schultz 1,693	Garth Herman 187	Template:Canadian party colour|	Lorne Scott
Melville	Template:Canadian party colour|	Michael Fisher 2,056	Garry Hoffman 2,165	Ron Osika 3,419		Template:Canadian party colour|	Ron Osika
Moosomin	Template:Canadian party colour|	John McCormick 1,604	Don Toth 4,669	John Van Eaton 1,539		Template:Canadian party colour|	Don Toth
Saltcoats	Template:Canadian party colour|	Leo Fuhr 1,884	Bob Bjornerud 4,688	Vic Polsom 933		Template:Canadian party colour|	Bob Bjonerud
Weyburn-Big Muddy	Template:Canadian party colour|	Judy Bradley 2,899	Brenda Bakken 4,015	Joseph Weisgerber 1,373		Template:Canadian party colour|	Judy Bradley

Saskatoon

Electoral District		Candidates					Incumbent
		New Democratic	Saskatchewan Party	Liberal	New Green Alliance	Progressive Conservative
		width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|
Saskatoon Eastview	Template:Canadian party colour|	Judy Junor 3,644	Francis Kreiser 2,646	Bernie Yuzdepski 1,722	Sandy Ervin 366		Template:Canadian party colour|	Judy Junor
Saskatoon Fairview	Template:Canadian party colour|	Chris Axworthy 2,653	Sandra Rees 1,137	Barry Anderson 649	Lynn Oliphant 89	Gwen Katzman 153	Template:Canadian party colour|	Chris Axworthy
Saskatoon Greystone	Template:Canadian party colour|	Peter Prebble 3,630	John Brennan 2,501	Peter Stroh 1,454			Template:Canadian party colour|	Lynda Haverstock**
Saskatoon Idylwyld	Template:Canadian party colour|	Janice MacKinnon 3,144	Martin Boser 1,333	Tim Ponto 977	Maisie Shiell 258	Kenneth J. Klassen 122	Template:Canadian party colour|	Janice MacKinnon
Saskatoon Meewasin	Template:Canadian party colour|	Carolyn Jones 3,588	Rodger Broadhead 2,863	Paul Prisciak 1,374	David Greenfield 294		Template:Canadian party colour|	Carol Teichrob**
Saskatoon Mount Royal	Template:Canadian party colour|	Eric Cline 3,523	Tyson Delorme 1,280	Myron Luczka 1,187		Kirk Eggum 89	Template:Canadian party colour|	Eric Cline
Saskatoon Northwest	Template:Canadian party colour|	Grant Whitmore 2,236	Jerry Ehalt 1,912	Jim Melenchuk 2,363			Template:Canadian party colour|	Grant Whitmore
Saskatoon Nutana	Template:Canadian party colour|	Pat Atkinson 3,671	Terry Biddell 1,472	George Haines 1,068	Patrick L. Smith 520	Dave Mathers 75	Template:Canadian party colour|	Pat Atkinson
Saskatoon Riversdale	Template:Canadian party colour|	Roy Romanow 3,130	Mark Coderre 1,060	David Pillipow 923	Neil Sinclair 167	Glenn Schriener 127	Template:Canadian party colour|	Roy Romanow
Saskatoon Southeast	Template:Canadian party colour|	Pat Lorje 3,172	Dennis Reaburn 1,987	Grant Karwacki 3,134			Template:Canadian party colour|	Pat Lorje
Saskatoon Sutherland	Template:Canadian party colour|	Graham Addley 3,234	Robin Bellamy 2,778	Vernice McIntyre 1,268			Template:Canadian party colour|	Mark Koenker**

Regina

Electoral District		Candidates						Incumbent
		New Democratic	Saskatchewan Party	Liberal	New Green Alliance	Progressive Conservative	Other
		width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=14% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=12% Template:Canadian party colour|	width=12% Template:Canadian party colour|
Regina Centre	Template:Canadian party colour|	Joanne Crofford 3,265	Ryan LeBlond 926	Robert Jozsa 1,362	Barb Markewich 534	Kenneth R. Johnson 177		Template:Canadian party colour|	Joanne Crofford
Regina Coronation Park	Template:Canadian party colour|	Kim Trew 3,297	Lyle Hewitt 1,517	Kathy Hill 1,391		Ian Kimball 112		Template:Canadian party colour|	Kim Trew
Regina Dewdney	Template:Canadian party colour|	Kevin Yates 2,687	Brent Shirkey 1,091	Hem Juttla 1,500	Victor Lau 294	Kristian Eggum 130		Template:Canadian party colour|	Edwin Tchorzewski**
Regina Elphinstone	Template:Canadian party colour|	Dwain Lingenfelter 2,689	Jo Ann Mohr 1,168	Robert Ermel 1,109	John Warnock 243	Brenda Rossow 56		Template:Canadian party colour|	Dwain Lingenfelter
Regina Lakeview	Template:Canadian party colour|	John Nilson 4,207	Randall Edge 1,741	Karen Pedersen 2,173		Brad Johnson 116	Wayne Gilmer (Ind.) 295	Template:Canadian party colour|	John Nilson
Regina Northeast	Template:Canadian party colour|	Ron Harper 3,193	Yvonne Mackie 1,566	John Patterson 1,327				Template:Canadian party colour|	Edward Shillington**
Regina Qu'Appelle Valley	Template:Canadian party colour|	Mark Wartman 3,641	Murray Hugel 2,251	Reina Sinclair 1,502				Template:Canadian party colour|	Suzanne Murray**
Regina Sherwood	Template:Canadian party colour|	Lindy Kasperski 3,090	Arlene Bray 1,549	Tom Crosby 1,369		George Marcotte 101		Template:Canadian party colour|	Lindy Kasperski
Regina South	Template:Canadian party colour|	Andrew Thomson 3,324	Terri Harris 2,533	David Huliyappa 2,390	Peter Borch 278			Template:Canadian party colour|	Andrew Thomson
Regina Victoria	Template:Canadian party colour|	Harry Van Mulligen 3,231	Terry Wall 1,690	John Knight 1,608	Jim Elliott 254			Template:Canadian party colour|	Harry Van Mulligen
Regina Wascana Plains	Template:Canadian party colour|	Doreen Hamilton 3,758	Dan Thibault 3,639	Adam Niesner 1,943				Template:Canadian party colour|	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.<ref name="earlyreturns">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="declare">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="called">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="replace">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Huyghebaert ended up winning the by-election.

See also

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

References

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

External links

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