SASKATOON – If a third political faction is going to challenge either the NDP or Saskatchewan Party in the province’s next election, the Liberals are best positioned to do so, according to a Saskatoon-based political scientist.
The Liberal, Progressive Conservative and Green parties combined to capture 6.75 per cent of the vote in Saskatchewan’s 2016 provincial election. The Liberals led the trio, with 3.61 per cent.
“I think the Liberals were quite happy to get the level of support they did,” said Joe Garcea, a University of Saskatchewan political scientist.
“The Liberals got twice as many votes as each of those other two parties. This will allow them, I think, to have the confidence and energy to carry on for another election at least.”
READ MORE: Saskatchewan election results
The Liberals received 15,399 votes according to the election’s preliminary results. Garcea said the showing positions the Liberals to potentially gain traction in the province.
“The question becomes, how well can the Liberals start to rebuild the party in relationship to how well the NDP is able to do it,” said Garcea.
“The NDP has a much more solid base on which to build, but nevertheless I think we have to remember that in the 1990s, the Liberals did have some success both in terms of amount of support and the fact that they were able to elect people to the legislature.”
READ MORE: Saskatchewan NDP’s future up in the air after Monday’s election
Garcea added that the Progressive Conservatives have resources to contend seats, but not the amount of membership to be a significant political player in Saskatchewan’s landscape. The Green Party, he said, likely isn’t concerned with being competitive come election season.
“Their interest is much more to use elections as a platform on which they can articulate their goals and objectives and vision for environmental protection,” said Garcea.
“Regardless of how well or poorly they do, they will continue to run candidates.”
Comments