NDP wins Walsh Acres, Coronation Park, Sask. Party wins Lumsden-Morse

The Saskatchewan NDP has flipped the Regina ridings of Walsh Acres and Coronation Park, while the Saskatchewan Party held on to Lumsden-Morse.

According to the initial count from Elections Saskatchewan, the NDP’s Jared Clarke won the Regina Walsh Acres byelection over the Sask. Party’s Nevin Markwart. According to the initial count, Clarke secured 54 per cent of the vote.

Jared Clarke. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

That seat was previously held by the Sask. Party’s Derek Meyers, who died of cancer in March.

In Regina Coronation Park, the initial count showed Noor Burki of the NDP winning over the Sask. Party’s Riaz Ahmad with 56.6 per cent of the vote.

A third byelection, in the riding of Lumsden-Morse, was won by the Saskatchewan Party’s Blaine McLeod with 53.7 per cent of the vote, beating out Saskatchewan United Party candidate Jon Hromek.

Noor Burki. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

That riding was previously held by Sask. Party MLA Lyle Stewart, who resigned for health reasons in March.

NDP Leader Carla Beck was jumping for joy after the byelection wins, which expanded her party’s caucus to 14, Saskatchewan’s largest opposition since 2011.

“It feels pretty good tonight,” Beck said. “I feel very proud of these candidates and the work that we put in. All the people in the room, we had people come from all over the province to join us. It feels good to have a little bit of momentum.”

Beck said the two wins, which she credited to hard work by the candidates and their teams, left her and her party optimistic about future elections.

“The NDP is not out here looking for second place. We are serious about forming government in 2024, and we just got a little step closer to that tonight,” Beck said.

“People are looking for something different. People are tired of divisive politics. People want a reason to hope again. They want to look forward to the future and think about what this province could be if you had a government that worked to benefit most people in the province.”

Clarke said the win was “still sinking in,” Thursday evening, but said he’s looking forward to getting to work on issues like affordability, education funding and health-care solutions.

He said affordability is currently a major challenge for many in Saskatchewan, and said the results demonstrate that “a lot of people recognize that the Sask. Party doesn’t seem to be making choices that are helping the people of this province.”

Burki was excited about his win, especially after falling short in the previous election.

“We’ve been on the doorstep almost every day,” he said. “People are really looking for change.”

He said he thinks the NDP’s strong support was largely due to the party’s positions on affordability.

Former MLA Mark Docherty, who previously held the Coronation Park seat, has knocked the Sask. Party’s “growth that works for everyone,” slogan, saying it hasn’t worked for everybody and people are struggling. Burki said he thinks voters in his riding heard those remarks and agreed.

Ahmad said he appreciated the opportunity to run in Coronation Park, and getting to know the community.

“It’s a disappointing moment but I appreciate all my team, all my family, all my family efforts,” he said. “They work hard. They do their best.”

When asked about Docherty’s comments and if he felt they affected the results, Ahmad said the former MLA is entitled to his opinion.

“That’s his own personal feelings. Everyone has theirs, so I don’t want to comment on that,” he said.

Kaitlyn Stadnyk. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Although the NDP’s Kaitlyn Stadnyk finished third in Lumsden-Morse, her campaign saw one of her party’s best results in the riding in years.

“We sent a strong message that the Sask. Party can’t take rural Saskatchewan for granted anymore,” she said.

Stadnyk said she’s unsure if she will run again in 2024.

Markwart, the runner up in Walsh Acres, said he felt his skills in finance and those he learned from his career in the NHL would have added to the government.

“I am disappointed, but I appreciate the experience of being able to go out in the neighbourhood that I grew up in and meet all the people,” he said.

McLeod was not available for comment.