The 27-day provincial election campaign, and the months of campaigning before the election, appear to have done little to change voter support levels.
Saskatchewan residents will go to the polls on Monday, and it’s expected the Saskatchewan Party will be returned for a third straight term as government. They’ll have a majority of seats, and likely capture more than half of the votes for the third straight election – a feat that not even the great Tommy Douglas could attain during the glory days of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (NDP) in the 1940s and 1950s.
Every public opinion poll has indicated the Saskatchewan Party will form the next government. The NDP might cite their own internal polls, or perhaps a poll conducted by a union, that indicates they will win, but anyone with a lick of political savvy will tell you that internal polls don’t mean anything.
But people still need to get out and vote.
We could cite the traditional reasons for people to vote. And they’re all valid. People in other countries would give everything to enjoy the democratic freedoms that we have in Saskatchewan. If you don’t vote, then you forfeit your right to an opinion on the direction of this province for the next four years.
While a lot of people will vote for the party, or the premier, there are also those who will vote for the candidate they believe will do the best job of representing the constituency. And there are several candidates worth voting for in the Estevan constituency in this provincial election.
Lori Carr of the Sask. Party should be the favourite in this riding. The Sask. Party has dominated in southeast Saskatchewan in the last four provincial elections.
Carr might not have the incumbent’s advantage, but she does have name recognition and municipal political experience, thanks to nearly a decade on Estevan city council.
If you think she will do the best job of representing the concerns and the needs of this constituency, then you should vote for her. If you don’t, then vote for someone else.
Paul Carroll of the Progressive Conservative Party and independent Cameron Robock have both worked tirelessly to get people’s support. Tina Vuckovic of the NDP has tried to overcome the stigma associated with being a parachute candidate.
As for the election, we wish it was a closer race. We wish the NDP had a leader who could truly go toe-to-toe with Premier Wall. Cam Broten is a good and capable leader, but he wasn’t the guy who was going topple Wall as premier.
But a seemingly inevitable Sask. Party victory isn’t an excuse to avoid the polling stations on April 4.
