The New Democrats’ stranglehold in northern Saskatchewan will continue for the next four years.
Both Athabasca MLA Buckley Belanger and Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette handily defeated their Saskatchewan Party rivals in yesterday’s vote.
Belanger finished with 846 more votes than Bobby Woods, while Vermette’s margin of victory over Joe Hordyski was 1,556 votes.
Woods says he thinks people in his constituency will have a — quote — “tough time over the next four years”.
“Well I don’t think they’re going to be ignored I just don’t think we’ll get as much as we could have got. You know I think the government has a responsibility to help all regions of Saskatchewan and I know that’s going to happen. But I think we’d have been a lot stronger being with the government of the day and that’s just the way things work.”
Belanger says the north will eventually be rewarded for its loyalty to the NDP.
“What’s going to happen is the North is going to continue flying the NDP banner, I think Doyle and I are going to work really hard to strengthen our constituency when it comes to the NDP and I think in the long run the NDP will realize when they do get back into power that the north was always there for them, so it’s important they’re there for the north as well.”
Vermette says the Saskatchewan Party government needs to respect the decision of northern voters.
“They went around promoting that it’s time for change, and I think it’s really clear the people and folks in the Cumberland Constituency did not want change. They decided they wanted to stay with the NDP and have somone who will be a strong voice for them and I will continue to do that. We will raise the issues and the issues need to be raised – and we shouldn’t be forgotten about, it’s a democratic process and the people have made their decision.”
Hordyski says he’s disappointed with his showing in the La Ronge area.
“No, actually I thought it would be a very, very close race. I think the support I got here in La Ronge is really what made the difference. I’m quite disappointed with the support I got here having been a leader here in the community for a number of years; I felt a little disappointment on that end.”
Analyst Greg Poelzer of the U of S International Centre for Northern Governance and Development says this election demonstrates the mindset of the northern voter.
“It speaks to a factor that doesn’t play as strongly as it does in the south and that’s about individuals and personalities which are often more important than party affiliations. Because of the strength of them as candidates, by themselves as individuals, even if the party does poorly across the province they’re able to do quite strongly.”
The NDP didn’t have as good a showing in Meadow Lake, where Saskatchewan Party incumbent Jeremy Harrison had no trouble with former MLTC tribal chief Helen Ben.
Despite the loss, Ben believes she accomplished an important goal — making more Aboriginal people aware of the need to vote.
“That’s a huge thing, we do have a growing young population and to create that awareness among the youth is very important. Amongst our people I think they’re realizing that yes, they need to have a voice and they need to excercise their democratic right to vote.”
Although she lost by almost 17-hundred votes, Ben says she is proud of her campaign and wouldn’t change a thing.
Meantime three Aboriginal candidates were elected to the governing Saskatchewan Party last night.
Jennifer Campeau won Saskatoon-Fairview, which has long been held by the New Democratic Party, defeating incumbent Andy Iwanchuk.
Campeau says her win is an indication that Aboriginal people are ready to take their rightful place in this province.
“Saskatchewan is changing and it’s ready for change I believe. I think this is a testament to it. The fact I won an urban riding and am First Nations. I am a student. I think it’s absolutely wonderful.
Premier Brad Wall praised Campeau as a candidate any party would want to have.
Other aboriginal candidates headed to Regina include Metis union leader Greg Lawrence who defeated high-profile candidate Deb Higgins in Moose Jaw and Metis businessman Roger Parent who beat out incumbent Frank Quennell in Saskatoon-Meewasin.