1999 Saskatchewan general election

September 16, 1999 (1999-09-16)

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
 
SK
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

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

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

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

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

  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
       
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

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

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

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

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
       
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

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

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

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

References

Notes

  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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