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1999 Saskatchewan general election

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1999 Saskatchewan general election
← 1995 September 16, 1999 (1999-09-16) 2003 →
58 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
30 seats needed for a majority
Turnout65.5% [1] (Increase0.9pp)
  First party Second party Third party
 
LIB
Leader Roy Romanow Elwin Hermanson Jim Melenchuk
Party New Democratic Saskatchewan Liberal
Leader since November 7, 1987 April 20, 1998 November 24, 1996
Leader's seat Saskatoon Riversdale Rosetown-Elrose Saskatoon Northwest
Last election 42 pre-creation 11
Seats before 43 10 5
Seats won 29 25 4
Seat change Decrease14 Increase15 Decrease1
Popular vote 157,046 160,603 81,694
Percentage 38.73% 39.61% 20.15%
Swing Decrease8.48pp Increase39.61 Decrease14.55pp
Premier before election

Roy Romanow
New Democratic

Premier after election

Roy Romanow
New Democratic

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.[2][3] 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.

Seating Plan After the Election

Opinion polls

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Evolution of voting intentions at provincial level
Polling firm Last day
of survey 		Source SNDP SP SLP NGA PCPS Other ME Sample
Election 1999 September 16, 1999 38.73 39.61 20.15 1.01 0.40 0.10
Feedback Research September 12, 1999 [4] 43 37 18 — — — 3.2 1,000
UCAL Management Consultants September 10, 1999 [5] 50 29 19 3 — — 3.1 1,003
Angus Reid September 2, 1999 [6] 47 35 14 2 — 2 3.5 800
UCAL Management Consultants August 26, 1999 [7] 48.9 30.4 18.9 — — — 3.1 1,004
Saskatchewan Party founded (August 8, 1997)[8]
Compas April 28, 1996 [9] 47 — 18 — 25 — 10 100
Election 1995 June 21, 1995 47.21 — 34.70 — 17.92 0.17

Results

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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%
New Green 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.

Percentages

[edit]
Popular vote
Saskatchewan
 
 39.61%
New Democratic
 
 38.73%
Liberal
 
 20.15%
Others
 
 1.51%
Seats summary
New Democratic
 
 50.00%
Saskatchewan
 
 43.10%
Liberal
 
 6.90%

Ranking

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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
New Green 0 0 0 15 1
  Progressive Conservative 0 0 0 7 7
  Independent 0 0 0 2 0

8 closest ridings

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  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

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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

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

Northeast Saskatchewan

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

East Central Saskatchewan

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

Southwest Saskatchewan

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Electoral District Candidates Incumbent
New Democratic Saskatchewan
Party 		Liberal Other
       
Arm River   Ron Bishoff
2,110 		Greg Brkich
3,696 		Harvey McLane
2,624 		  Harvey McLane
Cypress Hills   Keith Murch
1,368 		Wayne Elhard
4,138 		Barry Thienes
1,097 		  Wayne Elhard1
Kindersley   Bill Rosher
1,444 		Bill Boyd
4,491 		Vaughn Biberdorf
1,140 		  Bill Boyd
Moose Jaw North   Glenn Hagel
3,451 		Alene Tanner
2,772 		Tatum Benz
591 		  Glenn Hagel
Moose Jaw Wakamow   Deb Higgins
3,111 		Doris Dunphy
1,892 		Marlin Belt
668 		Vanessa Slater (PC)
99 		  Lorne Calvert**
Rosetown-Biggar   Berny Wiens
2,801 		Elwin Hermanson
4,907 		John Hendrickson
548 		Rick Barsky (NGA)
75 		  Berny Wiens
Swift Current   John Wall
2,538 		Brad Wall
4,600 		Rhonda Thompson
1,269 		  John Wall
Thunder Creek   Ivan Costley
1,496 		Lyle Stewart
3,969 		Gerard Aldridge
2,031 		  Gerard Aldridge
Wood River2   Robert Anderson
1,608 		Yogi Huyghebaert
3,139 		Glen McPherson
3,132 		  Glen McPherson

Notes

[edit]

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

[edit]
Electoral District Candidates Incumbent
New Democratic Saskatchewan
Party 		Liberal New Green
Alliance
       
Cannington   Glen Lawson
1,104 		Dan D'Autremont
5,671 		Joanne Johnston
798 		  Dan D'Autremont
Estevan   Larry Ward
1,484 		Doreen Eagles
3,577 		Neil Collins
2,440 		Sigfredo Gonzalez
130 		  Larry Ward
Indian Head-Milestone   Lorne Scott
2,305 		Don McMorris
3,877 		Larry Schultz
1,693 		Garth Herman
187 		  Lorne Scott
Melville   Michael Fisher
2,056 		Garry Hoffman
2,165 		Ron Osika
3,419 		  Ron Osika
Moosomin   John McCormick
1,604 		Don Toth
4,669 		John Van Eaton
1,539 		  Don Toth
Saltcoats   Leo Fuhr
1,884 		Bob Bjornerud
4,688 		Vic Polsom
933 		  Bob Bjonerud
Weyburn-Big Muddy   Judy Bradley
2,899 		Brenda Bakken
4,015 		Joseph Weisgerber
1,373 		  Judy Bradley

Saskatoon

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

Regina

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

Wood River controversy

[edit]

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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] Huyghebaert ended up winning the by-election.

See also

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References

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Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Voter turnout figures for 28th Saskatchewan election released". Elections Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Romanow "encouraged" by poll, Melenchuk not "discouraged"". CBC News. August 30, 1999. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  3. ^ "Romanow re-elected with minority government". Maclean's. September 27, 1999. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  4. ^ Wyatt, Mark (September 14, 1999). "50 per cent of voters favour New Democrats". The StarPhoenix. p. A1.
  5. ^ Wyatt, Mark (September 14, 1999). "50 per cent of voters favour New Democrats". The StarPhoenix. p. A1.
  6. ^ Mandryk, Murray (September 7, 1999). "CBC opinion poll gives New Democrats comfortable lead". The StarPhoenix. p. A1.
  7. ^ Gatehouse, Jonathan (August 30, 1999). "Romanow headed for third straight majority in Saskatchewan: poll: NDP has 18.5% lead". The National Post. p. A1.
  8. ^ Cairns, John. "25th anniversary for the Sask. Party this week". SaskToday.ca. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Wyatt, Mark (May 7, 1996). "Tories use poll results to needle Liberal caucus". The StarPhoenix. p. A2.
  10. ^ "Unofficial returns Saskatchewan general election 1999". Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. September 16, 1999. Archived from the original on September 3, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  11. ^ "McPherson wins Wood River". CBC News. January 27, 2000. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  12. ^ "Wood River By-election June 26". Government of Saskatchewan. May 29, 2000. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  13. ^ "Wood River by-election underway". CBC News. June 26, 2000. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
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