Saskatchewan voters may look for alternatives during the provincial election, causing tight races in some cities.
That according to political scientist Greg Poelzer, who says the SaskParty is now effectively a conservative party and is no longer the broad coalition it used to be. He says this leaves a quandary for people who voted for the federal liberals, hearing on the street they don’t know where to park their vote after such a personalized attack on the Prime Minister
Poelzer says residents who voted liberal, may no longer feel at home with the SaskParty. An indicator of that, he suggests was a poll in September that had about 34% undecided voters, number Poelzer says would never have been seen during the Brad Wall period.
Poelzer suggests that’s why he thinks Saskatchewan cities will be more competitive than people realize. He adds even with a SaskParty support level of around 59%, it’s high, but not deep.
Poelzer suggests that voters aren’t convinced the NDP are the right alternative but a number of city ridings will be competitive.

The Saskatchewan NDP have 14 teacher candidates running in the October 26th election and University of Saskatchewan Political Scientist Greg Poelzer says this is a good strategy, but they may have missed out on another.
Poelzer says the decision to appoint teachers was so closely tied with schools re-opening after the pandemic, teacher unions that can mobilize support and the way the pandemic is being handled in the province.
Poelzer adds he is surprised the NDP hasn’t taken full advantage of Ryan Meili’s background as a doctor.
He says it’s surprising they didn’t come out with a very clear, specific plan that had Meili sitting down at a news conference with a stethoscope to say he is a doctor and he knows what the province needs.
Poelzer says the NDP had a very good strategy around recruiting teacher candidates, but there has been a lot of missed opportunities around the COVID-19 plan and strategy.