# 1978 Saskatchewan general election

The 1978 Saskatchewan general election was held on October 18, 1978, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.
The New Democratic government of Premier Allan Blakeney was returned for a third consecutive term with an increased majority in the legislature, and a larger share of the popular vote.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Richard Collver continued to increase its share of the popular vote in this election. They were the only other party to win seats and became the official opposition to the Blakeney government.
Fierce political infighting in the Liberal Party after the resignation of leader David Steuart led to electoral disaster in 1978. The Liberals had lost two of the 15 seats they won in 1975 to by-elections and two more Grits crossed the floor to the Tories prior to the 1978 election. Under the disputed leadership of Ted Malone, the Liberals lost all of the 11 seats they still held in the legislature and more than half the votes it had won in the 1975 election.

## Results

| Party | Party | Party Leader | # of candidates | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats | Popular Vote | Popular Vote | Popular Vote |
| Party | Party | Party Leader | # of candidates | 1975 | Dissol. | Elected | % Change | # | % | % Change |
| | New Democratic | Allan Blakeney | 61 | 39 | 39 | 44 | +12.8% | 228,791 | 48.12% | +8.05% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Richard Collver | 61 | 7 | 11 | 17 | +54.5% | 181,045 | 38.08% | +10.46% |
| | Liberal | Ted Malone | 61 | 15 | 11 | – | -100% | 65,498 | 13.78% | -17.89% |
| | Independent | Independent | 2 | – | – | – | – | 81 | 0.02% | -0.62% |
| Total | Total | Total | 185 | 61 | 61 | 61 | – | 475,415 | 100% | |
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan |||||||||||

### Percentages

Popular vote
New Democratic
48.12%
PC
38.08%
Liberal
13.78%
Others
0.02% :
Seats summary
New Democratic
72.13%
PC
27.87% :

### Ranking

| Party | Seats | Second | Third | Fourth |
| New Democratic | 44 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Progressive Conservative | 17 | 41 | 3 | 0 |
| Liberal | 0 | 3 | 58 | 0 |
| Independents | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |

## Riding results

Names in bold represent cabinet ministers and the Speaker. Party leaders are italicized. The symbol " ** " indicates MLAs who are not running again.

### Northwest Saskatchewan

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | NDP | NDP | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | Other | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Athabasca | | Frederick John Thompson 2,340 | | Frank Petit 1,180 | | Henry Coupland 498 | | | Frederick John Thompson |
| Cut Knife-Lloydminster | | Bob Long 3,828 | | Bob Kent 3,213 | | Bill Taylor 259 | | | Miro Kwasnica** |
| Meadow Lake | | Gord McNeill 2,789 | | George McLeod 3,016 | | Colin Campbell 537 | | | Gordon James McNeill |
| Redberry | | Dennis Banda 3,325 | | John Gerich 2,916 | | Peter Bomok 491 | | | Dennis George Banda |
| Rosthern | | Howard Lucas 3,162 | | Ralph Katzman 4,708 | | Bill Patrick 964 | | | Ralph Katzman |
| The Battlefords | | Eiling Kramer 4,589 | | Rod McKenzie 2,175 | | Mervin Zulyniuk 1,427 | | | Eiling Kramer |
| Turtleford | | Lloyd Johnson 2,983 | | Charlie Wells 2,188 | | Pauline H. Cadrain 620 | | | Lloyd Emmett Johnson |
November 26, 1980 By-election: The Battlefords :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | NDP | David Miner | 3,432 | 48.59% | -7.44 |
| | Prog. Conservative | Harry Zamonsky | 2,143 | 30.34% | +3.79 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Bidart | 1,488 | 21.07% | +3.65 |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,063 | 100.00 | |

### Northeast Saskatchewan

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | NDP | NDP | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | Other | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cumberland | | Norm MacAuley 2,586 | | George L. Horne 1,254 | | Leon E. McAuley 526 | | | Norman H. MacAuley |
| Kelsey-Tisdale | | John R. Messer 4,031 | | Neil Hardy 3,461 | | P. Hudson Foga 527 | | | John Rissler Messer |
| Kinistino | | Don Cody 4,042 | | Louis A. Domotor 2,661 | | Robert G. Michayluk 706 | | | Arthur Thibault** |
| Melfort | | Norm Vickar 3,102 | | Bill Warner 3,749 | | John W. Calderwood 605 | | | Norman Vickar |
| Nipawin | | Irvin G. Perkins 3,262 | | Richard Collver 3,733 | | Ron J. Wassill 568 | | | Richard Lee Collver |
| Prince Albert | | Mike Feschuk 4,472 | | Richard E. Spencer 3,514 | | Helga Reydon 286 | | | Mike Feschuk |
| Prince Albert-Duck Lake | | Jerome Hammersmith 3,618 | | Norm Wipf 3,569 | | Colonel J. Archibald 660 | | | Norm Wipf |
| Shellbrook | | George Bowerman 3,835 | | John P. Meagher 3,029 | | Manley R. McLachlan 511 | | | George Bowerman |
November 26, 1980 By-election: Kelsey-Tisdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Prog. Conservative | Neil Hardy | 3,334 | 48.39% | +5.23 |
| | NDP | Lars Bracken | 3,232 | 46.91% | -3.36 |
| | Liberal | Jim Russell | 324 | 4.70% | -1.87 |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,890 | 100.00 | |

### West Central Saskatchewan

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | NDP | NDP | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | Other | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Arm River | | Donald Leonard Faris 3,308 | | Gerald Muirhead 3,501 | | Greg Wensel 1,101 | | | Donald Leonard Faris |
| Biggar | | Elwood L. Cowley 4,787 | | Roy Norris 3,270 | | Lynn Tokle 552 | | | Elwood Lorrie Cowley |
| Humboldt | | Edwin Tchorzewski 4,272 | | John Bajbula 2,439 | | Peter Cline 1,065 | | | Edwin Tchorzewski |
| Kindersley | | David G. Thomson 2,461 | | Bob Andrew 2,774 | | Allan McMillan 1,937 | | | Allan Neil McMillan |
| Rosetown-Elrose | | Jim Mills 3,056 | | Herbert Swan 3,587 | | Calvin W. Fensom 1,011 | | | Roy Bailey** |
| Wilkie | | Ray Heather 2,371 | | Jim Garner 2,865 | | Linda Clifford 1,975 | | | Linda Clifford |

### East Central Saskatchewan

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | NDP | NDP | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | Other | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Canora | | Al Matsalla 4,258 | | Eugene Teslia 2,647 | | Joseph F. Matsalla 730 | | | Al Matsalla |
| Kelvington-Wadena | | Neil Byers 4,165 | | Ray Meiklejohn 3,366 | | A. Ben Ferrie 521 | | | Neil Erland Byers |
| Last Mountain-Touchwood | | Gordon MacMurchy 4,150 | | Arnold Tusa 3,795 | | Gill Fontaine 385 | | | Gordon S. MacMurchy |
| Melville | | John Kowalchuk 4,072 | | Glenn Miller 3,465 | | Cecil Headrick 901 | | | John Russell Kowalchuk |
| Pelly | | Norm Lusney 3,739 | | Donald F. Boyd 2,130 | | Rudolph Els 760 | | | Norm Lusney |
| Quill Lakes | | Murray Koskie 3,662 | | W. Brian Wildeman 2,251 | | Mervyn T. Warner 919 | | | Murray James Koskie |
| Saltcoats | | Ed Kaeding 3,354 | | Walter R. Johnson 3,265 | | Gabriel R. Neumeier 680 | | | Ed Kaeding |
| Yorkton | | Randy Nelson 4,128 | | Ray S. Malinowski 3,637 | | Irene Konkin 1,036 | | | Randall Neil Nelson |

### Southwest Saskatchewan

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | NDP | NDP | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | Other | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Assiniboia-Gravelbourg | | Allan Engel 3,126 | | Wilf Lethbridge 2,331 | | Roy Nelson 2,662 | | | Roy Nelson |
| Maple Creek | | Norman Arndt 2,327 | | Joan Duncan 3,496 | | W.V. "Fred" Deis 1,341 | | | Bill Stodalka** |
| Moose Jaw North | | John Skoberg 4,483 | | Kerry R. Chow 3,579 | | Gene Chura 1,003 | | | John Leroy Skoberg |
| Moose Jaw South | | Gordon Snyder 4,512 | | Arthur "Bud" Smith 2,408 | | Terry W. Ocrane 716 | | | Gordon Taylor Snyder |
| Morse | | Reg Gross 2,587 | | Art Martens 2,203 | | Jack Wiebe 2,024 | | | John Edward Niel Wiebe |
| Shaunavon | | Dwain Lingenfelter 2,778 | | Jim Lacey 2,145 | | Eiliv "Sonny" Anderson 2,385 | | | Eiliv "Sonny" Anderson |
| Swift Current | | Spencer Wooff 3,288 | | Dennis Ham 3,620 | | Stew Tasche 936 | | | Dennis Ham |
| Thunder Creek | | D. Hicks 2,424 | | Colin Thatcher 3,359 | | Ron Gleim 1,270 | | | Wilbert Colin Thatcher |

### Southeast Saskatchewan

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | NDP | NDP | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | Other | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Bengough-Milestone | | Jim Liggett 3,069 | | Bob Pickering 3,118 | | Rod MacDonald 1,018 | | | David Lange** |
| Estevan | | Norman Blondeau 2,703 | | Bob Larter 4,376 | | Paul Bachorcik 948 | | | Robert Austin Larter |
| Indian Head-Wolseley | | Pat Connolley 2,400 | | Doug Taylor 2,893 | | Cyril MacDonald 1,943 | | | Cyril Pius MacDonald |
| Moosomin | | Fred A. Easton 2,614 | | Larry Birkbeck 3,353 | | J. Sinclair Harrison 1,964 | | | Larry Birkbeck |
| Qu'Appelle | | Greg Willows 6,844 | | John Gary Lane 7,231 | | J. Don McCullough 1,541 | | | John Gary Lane |
| Souris-Cannington | | Dean Fraser 2,019 | | Eric Berntson 3,739 | | Gerard Belisle 1,170 | | | Eric Arthur Berntson |
| Weyburn | | Jim Pepper 3,517 | | Glen Dods 3,449 | | Ron Chapdelaine 981 | | | James Auburn Pepper |
November 26, 1980 By-election: Estevan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | NDP | John Chapman | 2,918 | 36.79% | +3.12 |
| | Prog. Conservative | Grant Devine | 2,858 | 36.03% | -18.49 |
| | Liberal | Ralph Goodale | 2,156 | 27.18% | +15.37 |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,932 | 100.00 | |

### Saskatoon

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | NDP | NDP | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | Other | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Saskatoon Buena Vista | | Herman Rolfes 3,786 | | Reg Schafer 2,343 | | Doris Serne 1,272 | | | Herman Harold Rolfes |
| Saskatoon Centre | | Paul Mostoway 5,246 | | Harry Baker 2,743 | | Jean Korchin 1,453 | | | Paul Peter Mostoway |
| Saskatoon Eastview | | Bernie Poniatowski 4,018 | | Kimberly Young 3,322 | | Marie Eaton 1,257 | | | Glen Penner** |
| Saskatoon Mayfair | | Beverly Dyck 4,328 | | Donna L. Birkmaier 2,394 | | Dick Reed 1,104 | | | Beverly Dyck |
| Saskatoon Nutana | | Wes Robbins 4,739 | | Grant Devine 2,466 | | John A. Shanks 1,080 | | | W. Albert Robbins |
| Saskatoon Riversdale | | Roy Romanow 5,225 | | Mary Cherneskey 2,205 | | Nestor W. Romaniuk 640 | | | Roy Romanow |
| Saskatoon Sutherland | | Peter Prebble 5,007 | | Bill Lane 4,722 | | Douglas R. Knott 1,845 | | | Harold William Lane |
| Saskatoon Westmount | | John Edward Brockelbank 5,651 | | Peter Shinkaruk 2,427 | | Peter Sydney Groves 909 | | | John Edward Brockelbank |

### Regina

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | NDP | NDP | PC | PC | Liberal | Liberal | Other | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Regina Centre | | Ned Shillington 3,767 | | Keith Jeal 1,451 | | George Exner 935 | | William C. Beeching (Ind.) 45 | Edward Shillington |
| Regina Elphinstone | | Allan Blakeney 4,390 | | Christine Whitaker 1,250 | | R. Lawson Wilde 596 | | | Allan Blakeney |
| Regina Lakeview | | Doug McArthur 3,351 | | Ian McPherson 1,684 | | Ted Malone 2,366 | | | Edward Cyril Malone |
| Regina North East | | Walt Smishek 4,831 | | F. Warren Denzin 2,248 | | Del Miller 805 | | Roger D. Annis (Ind.) 36 | Walter Smishek |
| Regina North West | | Ed Whelan 5,575 | | Philip Lundeen 3,142 | | J. Culliton Poston 1,443 | | | Edward Charles Whelan |
| Regina Rosemont | | Bill Allen 4,524 | | Florian Vanderlinde 2,154 | | Gerry Bassendowski 766 | | | William J. G. Allen |
| Regina South | | John Hettema 3,114 | | Paul Rousseau 3,325 | | Philip M. Desjardine 1,688 | | | Stuart Cameron** |
| Regina Victoria | | Henry Baker 3,729 | | Andrew G. Shepherd 1,594 | | Glenn Caleval 820 | | | Henry Harold Peter Baker |
| Regina Wascana | | Clint White 3,993 | | Allan W. Wagar 2,945 | | J. Duane Koch 1,859 | | | Anthony Merchant** |
October 17, 1979 By-election: Regina North West :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | NDP | John Solomon | 3,354 | 47.75% | -7.12 |
| | Liberal | Ted Malone | 2,211 | 31.47% | +17.27 |
| | Prog. Conservative | Philip Lundeen | 1,460 | 20.78% | -10.15 |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,025 | 100.00 | |