The provincial election has come and gone and though there are still some ballots to be counted, Daryl Harrison has secured his spot as Cannington鈥檚 new MLA.
Harrison defeated the Buffalo Party's Wes Smith, New Democratic Party candidate Dianne Twietmeyer and the Green Party's Jaina Forrest in Monday鈥檚 vote.
Harrison captured 5,581 votes, or 73.9 per cent of the total votes cast. Smith had 1,227 votes (16.2 per cent), Twietmeyer had 617 votes (8.2 per cent) and Forrest had 131 votes (1.7 per cent).
The totals don鈥檛 include mail-in ballots, which had yet to be tabulated as of Wednesday afternoon.
Harrison stated that the election results were as expected.
When asked about his thoughts on the Buffalo Party's second place showing, he stated. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not to be unexpected. There is a lot of anger towards Ottawa and the federal government for overreaching in provincial matters and not understanding the people of Saskatchewan. Those people that support the Buffalo party are in my riding and I look forward to engaging with their supporters.鈥�
Some of the issues that people articulated to Harrison while on the campaign trail were the carbon tax, highways, health care, schools, hospitals and general life affordability. Harrison says he made it out to all the communities in his riding at least twice and travelled over 7,000 kilometres to hear the concerns of the people of the constituency.
Cannington is a large riding but Harrison feels confident he will represent it well.
鈥淚 will be making sure I spend time in the constituency, out in the communities, talking to the people, municipalities, councils. I want to stay in close contact there, and as restrictions allow I would like to have face to face meetings with each council at least on an annual basis.鈥�
Over the next few weeks there are a few things that need to happen.
鈥淭he first caucus meeting, swearing in. I do not have a time line for that yet. Mail in ballots start today (Wednesday) so there may be a delay in the first caucus meeting. I am not sure if they will wait or we will proceed and carry on.鈥� Harrison explained.
Harrison finishes by saying, 鈥淚 would like to thank the voters of Cannington for their overwhelming support. I am very humbled by that. I would like to thank Wes Smith and Dianne Twietmeyer for their campaigns.聽 And I look forward to meeting everyone in the coming weeks and months.鈥�
Cannington鈥檚 previous MLA, Dan D鈥橝utremont, announced in 2018 he would not seek another term. He had held the role since 1991, and was the longest-serving MLA in the province.
Smith said he was satisfied with the results from Monday night, since the Buffalo Party was established only three months ago. He became the party鈥檚 candidate in late September, and he believes he would have done better if he and the party had more time to clarify its stance on some issues.
One of those ideas involves the party鈥檚 stance on western separation.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not pushing separation on anyone,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淭he only thing that鈥檚 ever been in our platform or our mandate is that people deserve the right to vote and have a referendum on separation, but we鈥檙e not pushing for it,鈥� said Smith.
The party does want more independence on income tax revenues in Saskatchewan, to keep more money here for the people.
People he talked to were concerned about the state of healthcare and emergency medical services, long-term rural employment prospects, and the Ministry of Agriculture鈥檚 handling of disagreements involving land owners and Crown leased lands. Others were concerned about having a vote split between the Buffalo Party and the Sask. Party that would benefit the NDP, but that didn鈥檛 materialize.
Smith said he would remain involved with the party, especially after the response that the party received in this election.
Twietmeyer said she wasn鈥檛 surprised with the results, since the voters of Cannington have never elected an NDP MLA.
Still, she enjoyed every moment of the campaign and talking to people, even though she knew what the result would be. And after sending congratulations to Harrison on his win, she reminded him to represent all people of the constituency.聽
The one thing that did surprise her was the support shown for the Buffalo Party, and how the new party was able to take votes from the Sask. Party and the NDP.
鈥淚 would have been happy to perhaps get 15 per cent of the electorate, but I guess I was not aware of how influential the Buffalo Party鈥檚 platform was going to be,鈥� she said.
She was disappointed that more NDP MLAs weren鈥檛 elected, since it the party won鈥檛 have as strong of an opposition in the legislature.
鈥淚 hate seeing them (the Sask. Party) being given carte blanche to do it again, without a strong opposition to hold their feet to the fire,鈥� said Twietmeyer.
She noted that many people in Saskatchewan associate the provincial NDP with their federal counterparts, but she believes the federal NDP has to play a certain game that the provincial party doesn鈥檛 have to do.
The concepts found in the provincial NDP鈥檚 platform 鈥� such as a basic income, reduced surgical wait times, smaller classroom sizes, more teachers and a greater emphasis on hiring Saskatchewan workers for projects 鈥� are things everyone should want to support.聽
