SASKATOON – The campaigning is almost over and voters will be marking their ballots April 4. While no one issue dominated the headlines, there were several issues that did gain traction at some point in the campaign.
IN DEPTH: Saskatchewan Election 2016 – The Ridings
Here’s how the 2016 Saskatchewan election campaign has played out since the writ was dropped on March 8.
FULL COVERAGE: Decision Saskatchewan 2016
Dropped candidates
One of the first issues the NDP had to deal with was inappropriate comments made on social media by candidates.
READ MORE: Sask NDP drops 4 candidates, campaign manager in 3 days
Four candidates ended up being dropped and the party’s campaign manager was also replaced.
WATCH BELOW: The do’s and don’ts of social media in politics
Both the NDP and the Saskatchewan Party had to deal with questions over candidates with prior impaired driving convictions. None of the candidates were dropped by either party.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan Party, NDP both running candidates with DUI convictions
Leaders debate
Brad Wall and Cam Broten squared off on March 23 in a televised leader’s debate. Tensions were high at times, with name calling and verbal sparring characterizing the debate.
The tone of the debate was set by the first question – diversifying the economy – which turned into an argument over the film employment tax credit.
WATCH BELOW: Saskatchewan leaders discuss diversifying the economy
While Donald Trump is involved in his own election south of the border, Canadians were not immune to hearing about the controversial Republican nominee Wednesday night.
During a Crown Corporations and utility affordability discussion, Wall said the NDP promises were similar to Trump’s in terms of spending promises.
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“You haven’t said how you’re going to pay for these?” Wall said. “This is the Donald Trump section of your platform. Who’s going to pay for this? Mexico?”
Broten then laughed.
“I’ve never been compared to Donald Trump,” Broten said.
READ MORE: Tensions high during Sask. leaders’ debate
The leaders of the three parties who did not participate in the debate called it a waste of time.
READ MORE: Greens, Liberals, and PC leaders say televised debate was waste of voter’s time
Promises, promises
Very few promises were made by the Saskatchewan Party, with Wall saying he is standing behind their growth plan and their “responsible, affordable platform that will keep Saskatchewan strong.”
Some of the promises made by the Sask Party include more money to fix roads, shorten wait times, increase funding for children with autism, help making buying a first home easier for young people and rebuild the rainy day fund.
Broten accused Wall of “hiding cuts” by not releasing a budget before the election.
READ MORE: NDP Leader Cam Broten uses town hall meeting to criticize Sask. Party spending
The NDP began rolling out campaign promises before the writ was dropped, including scrapping the province’s executive plane fleet, reducing emergency room wait times and lowering taxes.
Broten has also promised to scrap ambulance fees, make cuts to health care management, lower utility rates, and lower post-secondary education costs.
Wall said the cost of NDP promises would be hundreds of millions of dollars not disclosed the NDP’s platform.
READ MORE: ‘This speaks to competence’: NDP’s utility rate cut sparks criticism
Wall and Broten weren’t the only leaders making promises.
Victor Lau says a Green Party government would not introduce a carbon tax and would do away with social assistance by bringing in an assured income as part of a “comprehensive vision” for the province.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan Green Party pitches ‘comprehensive vision’
Liberal Leader Darrin Lamoureux says his party would strengthen ties with First Nations, build a pipeline to Churchill, increase the minimum wage and offer a rebate for homeowners investing in renewable energy.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan Liberals outline election platform
Rick Swenson, leader of the PC Party, says an effective opposition is key to making government accountable and that it’s time for the province to give up on the failed health regions experiment.
READ MORE: Sask. PC Party calls health regions ‘experiment that’s failed’
Speaking with the leaders
The leaders were invited to appear on Global Saskatoon’s Morning News to discuss their party’s platforms. Four – Cam Broten (NDP), Victor Lau (Green), Darrin Lamoureux (Liberals), and Rick Swenson (PC) – appeared.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall turned down several invitations to appear, with Saskatoon Northwest candidate Gordon Wyant appearing in his absence.
You can watch their full interviews below.
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