In a hastily called news conference on Wednesday, the Saskatchewan NDP leader declared wins in three of the close call constituencies in Saskatoon. Ryan Meili also conceded two losses. The second count of the ballots which includes all of the mail-in ballots that arrived by election day began on Wednesday.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili says he has won in his constituency of Saskatoon Meewasin, as have Matt Love for Saskatoon Eastview and Jennifer Bowes in Saskatoon University. He is also predicting a loss for the NDP’s Yens Pedersen in Regina Northeast and Nicole Rancourt in Prince Albert Northcote.

On Wednesday night Ryan Meili was ahead by 209 votes in his riding of Saskatoon Meewasin. However, there are still 591 mail in ballots that could come in by the November 5th deadline. As of last night, Matt Love who ran in Saskatoon Eastview had a 207 vote lead over SaskParty candidate Chris Guerette. There are still more than 500 mail in ballots that could be received in that riding.

Eight ridings were too close to call on election night: Saskatoon Meewasin, Prince Albert Northcote, Regina Coronation Park, Regina Pasqua, Regina University, Saskatoon Eastview, Saskatoon Riversdale and Saskatoon University.

Meili says something that has been seen around the world is that incumbent governments have an advantage when there is so much disruption, consequently change is a hard sell during a pandemic. He says the NDP as the official opposition is ready to get to work and get back to the Legislature.

Meili adds that the NDP made a special effort to encourage voting by mail, which he says, “made election night look funny but in the long run is playing out in our favour.”

The final count doesn’t begin until November 7th with the deadline for mail-in ballots on November 5th.