The Provincial Election is in the books and the Sask. Party has painted the province green.
With a record breaking 60% of the popular vote, Brad Wall and the Sask. Party candidates were victorious in 49 of the 58 constituencies. The NDP lost 11 seats, including leader Dwain Lingenfelter’s seat in Regina and long-time Moose Jaw MLA Deb Higgins who served for 12 years in the Wakamow riding in Moose Jaw.
Higgins went down to SaskParty’s Greg Lawrence by a margin of just over 200 votes.
The Liberal Party only ran in 9 constituencies, and were unsuccessful in all. Leader Ryan Bater wasn’t even in the running, only picking up 805 votes, with the Sask. Party and NDP candidates running a close battle - Sask. Party took the seat.
The Green Party ran a number of candidates but only picked up a handful of votes in each riding.
Dustin Duncan, incumbent MLA for Weyburn-Big Muddy, acknowledged the strong support his party received, “It is with gratitude and humility that I acknowledge the record level of support that we received, not only in Weyburn – Big Muddy, but across the province and we will work hard to honour the historic level of confidence and support our government received.”
Dustin Duncan won the Weyburn-Big Muddy seat handily with more than 3600 more votes than the closest challenger, the NDP’s Ken Kessler. Green party candidate, Gene Ives, got 148 votes.
Duncan thanked the people of the constituency. “I wish to thank the people of Weyburn – Big Muddy for their continued support and look forward to serving them over the next four years. I also want to congratulate Ken Kessler and his team, as well as all those who put their name forward. It was an exciting month of ideas and debate.” said Duncan.
In the Wood River constituency, Sask. Party incumbent Yogi Huyghebaert crushed challengers, Randy Gaudry for the NDP and Green Party candidate Amelia Swiderski. Huygehbaert won with over 4000 more votes than Gaudry, who registered 952 votes - Swiderski, 208.
Duncan talked about his plans for his next term in office. “Despite receiving increased support in both the popular vote and total vote here in Weyburn – Big Muddy, I know there is much work to be done. I look forward to getting back to work and addressing the issues that were raised in this campaign, including those in the area of health care in the southwest part of the constituency. I believe the strong support levels received by the government on November 7th in this area show that many people in Coronach and area want to work with our government in addressing these and other issues, and I look forward to continuing this work over this term of government.
“I have already indicated publicly that I will be seeking new ways to better engage constituents, especially in light of my role in cabinet and the demands that come with this responsibility. Early in my time as MLA, I started the practice of expanding my availability by scheduling office hours in Coronach. I look forward to resuming this practice in a number of communities in Weyburn – Big Muddy, including the town of Coronach.” concluded Duncan.
All election results are unofficial.
trianglenews@sasktel.net
