1999 Saskatchewan general 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.

1999 Saskatchewan general election

← 1995 September 16, 1999 (1999-09-16) 2003 →
← outgoing members members →
58 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan 30 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	65.5% [1] (0.9pp)
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 14 15 1 Popular vote 157,046 160,603 81,694 Percentage 38.73% 39.61% 20.15% Swing 8.48pp 39.61 14.55pp
Premier before election Roy Romanow New Democratic Premier after election Roy Romanow New Democratic

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

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