REGINA – Advance polling stations opened Friday for voters looking to cast their ballot ahead of Oct. 19. According to a new poll, Conservatives would have the most support in Saskatchewan if the federal election was held today.
The survey conducted by Mainstreet Postmedia showed that 34 per cent of residents polled across the province support the Conservatives.
In Regina, the Conservatives are leading just slightly at 29 per cent, followed by the NDP at 24 per cent and Liberals at 23 per cent.
Ken Rasmussen, a political scientist with the Johnson-Shoyama School of Public Policy, anticipates we’ll see a representative from each of the parties elected in the Queen City.
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“Some people are tired of the Conservatives and want to see some change so that’s what’s fueling this,” he said. “Frankly, the Saskatchewan caucus in Ottawa has been very low profile, they’re seen as the ‘B-team’ from Saskatchewan.”
In Saskatoon, on the other hand, the majority of residents polled support the NDP at 31 per cent, in comparison to 28 per cent for the Conservatives. The Liberals come in third at 21 per cent.
Rasmussen said those numbers can in part be attributed to redistribution of ridings. “It also has to do with the strength of the NDP provincially, and also the historical fact that the NDP has always has been strong in cities, in Regina and Saskatoon.” he added.
A third of people surveyed indicated they plan to vote strategically this election.
According to the poll, close to 50 per cent of residents are also basing their vote on the party versus the party leader or their local candidate.
Forty per cent of people polled indicated the economy was the most important election issue for Saskatchewan.
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