Canada election: 3 Saskatchewan seats up for grabs as voters head to the polls | The Canadian News

Saskatchewan turned blue in the 2019 federal election, with the Conservatives winning all 14 seats in the province.

Will the Conservatives keep all their seats in Saskatchewan in the 2021 election, or will the NDP or the Liberals regain lost seats?

One of the biggest upsets in 2019 was in Regina-Wascana, where veteran liberal Ralph Goodale was ousted by conservative newcomer Michael Kramer.

While the Conservatives may not be in danger of losing this course, three more are at stake, according to political experts.

The NDP lost the Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River and Saskatoon West constituencies, while Regina-Lewvan turned blue after electing former NDP member Erin Weir in 2015.

In Regina-Lewvan, a screening of votes from 338 Canada it has the conservatives side by side with the NDP.

Warren Steinley, who is seeking to retain his seat, is being challenged by NDP Tria candidate Donaldson.

Steinley is a former Saskatchewan Party MLA who jumped into federal politics in 2019.

He said he believes that all elections are closed and that whoever puts his name on the ballot has a chance to win.

“It is always going to be a fight on the urban roads. The NDP has been strong in Regina for a long time, but we are actually seeing our support continue and grow in some areas, especially Harbor Landing since the last election, ”Steinley said.

Donaldson is a prominent activist and organizer of the labor movement and is aiming for a setback.

“It’s going to be a very big election based on participation,” Donaldson said.

“So I think it’s just a question of who are the supporters who vote.”

The NDP is trying to win back Saskatoon West from the Conservatives.

University of Saskatchewan professor of public policy Ken Coates calls this one of the most interesting tours to watch because of its diversity, growth, and name recognition of candidates.

“Whenever you see rapid development of a community like that, it really makes the outcome unpredictable,” Coates said.

Brad Redekopp, who defeated the NDP’s Sherri Benson in 2019, faces a strong challenge from Robert Doucette, a local activist and former president of Métis Nation-Saskatchewan.

Coates said Doucette has career name recognition that few other candidates can’t match, giving him a good chance of getting more votes than Redekopp.

However, Coates added that the Conservatives are very good at getting the vote, which could give Redekopp the advantage.

Either way, Coates said it will be a fascinating race to watch on election night.

In northern Saskatchewan, conservative Gary Vidal defeated Georgina Jolibois of the NDP at Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River in a cavalcade that has shifted between the three major parties over the past two decades.

The race is seen as an altercation between the Conservatives, Liberals and the NDP.

Vidal is running again for the Conservatives, veteran Saskatchewan NDP MLA Buckley Belanger resigned his seat in the legislature to run for the Liberals and Harmonie King is seeking to regain the NDP seat.

University of Regina political studies professor Tom McIntosh said name recognition is important in driving.

“Party etiquette is much less important than the candidate’s local profile,” he said.

“It’s really a case where it’s not about the party leader or party etiquette, it’s about who is the local candidate for that particular party.”

McIntosh said that gives Belanger an advantage, but added that it’s always difficult to win a seat against a starter.

“If it changed hands … people will attribute it to the fact that Buckley has a reputation in the area, he is well known, he is well liked,” he said.

“If the liberals cry out to another minority government, then he’s the likely Saskatchewan cabinet minister, so that could work too.”

A wild card in all three constituencies could be the People’s Party of Canada. According to 338Canada, the PPC is polling between six and 11 percent in these districts, which could bleed the support of conservatives.

McIntosh doubts that the PPC will get enough votes to change the outcome of any horsemanship, and says the party composition is not all ex-conservatives.

“About a third of them actually voted for the Liberals last time,” he said.

“Where those votes come from and where they could go back is much more complicated than simply assuming that if they don’t vote for the PPC, everyone will vote for the Conservatives. Maybe not “.

McIntosh said PPC supporters may not just vote.

“There seems to be a significant proportion of that vote or of people who identify with that party who did not vote in the last elections, or in the previous elections as well.”

Polls in Saskatchewan open Mondays at 7:30 a.m. M. And they close at 7:30 p.m. M.

Stay connected on all Global News platforms on Election Night for results, analysis and feedback.

–With files from Taz Dhaliwal, Nathaniel Dove, and Kyle Benning.