THE MORNING AFTER UPDATE:
Sask Party: 52.2%, 37 seats
NDP: 36.2%, 21 seats
Liberals: 9.3%, 0 seats
Greens: 2.0%, 0 seats
And, for those paying attention, the Progressive Conservatives (812 votes) edged out the Western Independence Party (569 votes), and the Marijuana Party (508 votes) for fifth. Yet again, the Marijuana Party fails to mobilize it’s vote…
So, for your “2007 Election Watch” wrap-up, that leaves three freshman governments who were all re-elected (albeit with Charest on academic probation) this year. Sophomore Gary Doer was also awarded a much deserved third term. However, a pair of long time governments with few faults were tossed out despite the good economic times.
Barring a surprise, that should do it for 2007. For 2008, expect Alberta to vote in mid-to-late March and keep an eye on the minority governments in Nova Scotia, Quebec and, of course, Ottawa.
As for Saskatchewan, this was clearly a case of “change for change’s sake”. Lorne Calvert has accomplish the rare feat of being defeated at the top of his game and he can certainly be proud of all he accomplished and the prosperity he leaves his province in. Brad Wall deserves full marks for moderating the Sask Party and running a solid campaign. The man clearly is the new “golden boy” of provincial politics, although he should remember that the last “golden boy” was run out of town in New Brunswick last year after two terms in power. As for the provincial Liberals, major soul searching is clearly needed after a result that is impossible to spin positively.
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The results are coming in from Saskatchewan and if one or two seats shift, the PR people are going to be going apesh*t!
Pop Vote:
SP 51.5%
NDP 36.2%
Lib 9.9%
Green 2.0%
Seats:
SP 30
NDP 27
The NDP are up in a few tight races so I’d expect the final win margin to be by a good half dozen seats.
UPDATE: As for the Liberals, David Karwacki is in a tight 3 way race…still too close to call.
UPDATE: Both the CBC and Globe have projected a Sask Party majority. Not a massive majority by any means, but a majority nevertheless.
And good on Brad Wall. Even though my leanings would certainly be towards the Liberal or NDP camp in Saskatchewan, he’s done a good job as leader and is a very talented politician. He’s fully deserving of the win.
UPDATE: 33 to 25 now, with the popular vote holding steady. Might I just say, it’s quite interesting to see a long term prairie government tossed out in the midst of an economic boom. Quite interesting indeed…