----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 10:12
PM
Subject: Social Democrats Win in
Saskatchewan
This was entirely unexpected
as the ultraright was widely expected to win. (The 'Saskatchewan' party was a
kind of amalgam of the discredited -- due to corruption -- Conservative Party
and the Canadian Alliance Party which in Canada is known as the Canadian
Republican Party -- an alliance of Christian fundamentalism with far
right, pro-American integration, neoliberals and corporate
capital.)
The NDP is hardly radical but, at its core, remains
reformist and seems to be in the process of recusitation and leaning to the
left -- perhaps, more important, it is gaining support from young people and
giving hope to the environmental movement. Coming, as I do, from
Manitoba with a second NDP andministration, I realize how much better life is
under the social democrats, as conservative as they may be, as it is under the
neoliberals as I am now in British Columbia. (In Conservative/neoliberal
country, being old becomes a crime. It is disgusting.)
Small
victories, but sweet nevertheless.
Paul
Phillips,
Economics,
University of
Manitoba
NDP majority in Saskatchewan
Last Updated Thu, 06 Nov 2003 0:24:15
REGINA - Saskatchewan
voters have returned NDP Premier Lorne Calvert to power in an election
thriller, giving the government a fourth straight term.
"They said it couldn't
be done…we did it!" said a jubilant Calvert.
The New Democrats won
30 of the 58 seats in the legislature. The Saskatchewan Party won 28, while
the Liberals were shut out.
![]() Lorne
Calvert |
Thirteen
cabinet ministers were re-elected, as well as leader Calvert. The NDP went up
about seven per cent in the popular vote.
The NDP showed early
gains by taking key rural seats from the Saskatchewan Party, credited to a
concentrated late-campaign push.
"The momentum changed,
the momentum came to New Democrats, the momentum is now with Saskatchewan,"
said Calvert.
People say they want
change and have entrusted our party to lead that change, said the premier.
"We will build a better
Saskatchewan for Saskatchewan families. That is our pledge," he said.
Calvert campaigned on a
promise not to sell Crown corporations, boost health care, continue a series
of small tax cuts and reduce student loan debt.
![]() Elwin
Hermanson |
The
Saskatchewan Party made inroads with urban voters by taking three seats in
Saskatoon. The Saskatchewan Party had advocated corporate tax cuts, a review
of Crown corporations and a work-for-welfare program.
Saskatchewan Party
leader Elwin Hermanson won his own riding of Rosetown-Elrose, with two-thirds
of the popular vote.
"Obviously we're
disappointed," said Hermanson.
"Let's remember,
friends, that the Saskatchewan Party is still a young party," he said "we
don't need to hang our head." Campaign workers, supporters, and voters can
feel proud, he said.
Calling it a
"beachead," Hermanson commented on the party's success in winning four urban
seats, and especially noted its three victories in Saskatoon.
"We have been a good
opposition in the past and we intend to be even a better opposition in the
future." He also commented on the collapse of the Liberal party, saying it was
obvious that Liberal support moved to the NDP and not the Saskatchewan Party.
The Liberal party was
shut out of the legislature, including leader David Karwacki.
"This is not the result
we were hoping for," said Karwacki.
Karwacki, who had said
he would not take part in a negative campaign, thanked Liberals for running a
campaign "with dignity."
Voter turnout was 70
per cent, up eight per cent from the record low turnout in 1999.
Written by CBC News Online staff
