# 2003 Saskatchewan general election

The 2003 Saskatchewan general election was held on November 5, 2003, to elect the 58 members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan (MLAs). The election was called on October 8 by Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Lynda Haverstock, on the advice of Premier Lorne Calvert.

## Campaign

Going into the election, the popularity of the New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan (NDP) had declined because of several controversies. Voters in this agrarian province were disgruntled because of a mediocre harvest, a disastrous summer for cattle producers — the American border had been closed to Canadian beef due to fears of mad cow disease; and the actions of a member of the NDP Cabinet who was found to have misled the people of the province on the nature of the Saskatchewan Potato Utility Development Company ("SPUDCO") — a publicly owned potato company that was inappropriately characterized as a public-private partnership that went bust in 2000.
New Liberal leader David Karwacki was elected on a platform of disbanding the coalition with the NDP. After ordering Liberal MLAs to leave government, MLAs Ron Osika and Jim Melenchuk left the party and continued to sit in government before ultimately joining the NDP.
Election issues included emigration (the province's population was falling because young people were leaving the province to look for work), honesty and integrity, privatization of public inter-city transit and energy supplies, and utility rates.
During the campaign, the NDP was attacked for an internal cartoon that had been leaked to the media. It depicted Saskatchewan Party leader Elwin Hermanson directing persons labeled 'NDP sympathizers' onto railway boxcars. The cartoon referred to speculation that, if elected, Hermanson would replace civil servants who were NDP supporters with Saskatchewan Party supporters. However, many associated it with the Holocaust – in particular Nazi Germany's deportation of Jews to concentration camps.
The campaign as a whole was seen as being quite negative, as the NDP constantly claimed that the Saskatchewan Party had a 'secret agenda' to privatize crown corporations to finance large tax cuts for business; the Saskatchewan Party had a difficult time refuting these claims, as several party members made comments that seemed consistent with this view.
Unlike many of the other provincial elections held in 2003, the election was widely regarded as too close to call up until a large proportion of the polls had reported. To the surprise of observers who believed the NDP would be affected by the poor pre-election conditions, the NDP won its fourth term in government. It actually picked up the one seat it needed for a bare majority. The election was ultimately decided in Regina Wascana Plains, which the NDP won by only 543 votes. Had the Saskatchewan Party won here, both parties would have had 29 seats each. All of the NDP's ministers were re-elected; except for two who had defected to the party from the Liberals.
The Saskatchewan Party cemented its grip on most of the rural seats, yet was unable to make further gains in urban areas. It won two additional seats in Saskatoon, but was completely shut out in Regina (though as mentioned above it nearly won Regina Wascana Plains). Believing he had taken the party as far as he could, Hermanson resigned as leader on November 18, 2003.
Although speculation was high that they could form the balance of power in the case of a minority government, the Liberals lost their one seat, shutting them out of the legislature for the first time since 1982. They would never again return to the legislature — in 2023 they re-branded as the Saskatchewan Progress Party.

## Results

| Party | Party | Party leader | # of candidates | Seats | Seats | Seats | Seats | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Party | Party | Party leader | # of candidates | 1999 | Dissol. | Elected | % Change | # | % | % Change |
| | New Democratic | Lorne Calvert | 58 | 29 | 28 | 30 | +7.2% | 190,923 | 44.68% | +5.95% |
| | Saskatchewan Party | Elwin Hermanson | 58 | 25 | 26 | 28 | +7.7% | 168,144 | 39.35% | -0.26% |
| | Liberal | David Karwacki | 58 | 4 | 1 | – | -100% | 60,601 | 14.18% | -5.97% |
| | Western Independence | Bruce Ritter | 17 | * | – | – | * | 2,615 | 0.61% | * |
| | New Green | Ben Webster | 27 | – | – | – | – | 2,323 | 0.55% | -0.46% |
| | Independent | Independent | 5 | – | 3 | – | -100% | 1,997 | 0.47% | +0.37% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Iris Dennis | 11 | – | – | – | – | 681 | 0.16% | -0.24 |
| Total | Total | Total | 234 | 58 | 58 | 58 | | 427,284 | 100% | |
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan |||||||||||
Note: * Party did not nominate candidates in previous election.

### Percentages

Popular vote
New Democratic
44.68%
Saskatchewan
39.35%
Liberal
14.18%
Others
1.79% :
Seats summary
New Democratic
51.72%
Saskatchewan
48.28% :

### Ranking

| Party | Seats | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth | Sixth |
| New Democratic Party | 30 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Saskatchewan Party | 28 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liberal Party | 0 | 4 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| New Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 6 | 0 |
| Western Independence | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| Progressive Conservative | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |

### 6 closest constituencies

* Lloydminster: Milt Wakefield (SK Party) def. Wayne Byers (NDP) by 64 votes
* Humboldt: Donna Harpauer (SK Party) def. Bryan Barnes (NDP) by 173 votes
* Saskatoon Northwest: Ted Merriman (SK Party) def. Jim Melenchuk (Ind.-NDP) by 266 votes
* Carrot River Valley: Allan Kerpan (SK Party) def. Mark Pitzel (NDP) by 360 votes
* Weyburn-Big Muddy: Brenda Bakken (SK Party) def. Sherry Leach (NDP) by 385 votes
* Meadow Lake: Maynard Sonntag (NDP) def. Ron Dosdall (SK Party) by 414 votes

## Riding-by-riding results

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

### Northwest Saskatchewan

| Electoral District | Electoral District | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Electoral District | Electoral District | New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party | Liberal | Western Independence | Progressive Conservative | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Athabasca | | Buckley Belanger 2,508 (70.67%) | Greg Ross 806 (22.71%) | Philip Derocher 212 (5.97%) | | Sean Gilchrist 23 (0.65%) | | Buckley Belanger |
| Cut Knife-Turtleford | | John Vinek 2,520 (39.02%) | Michael Chisholm 3,114 (48.21%) | Larry Ingram 649 (10.05%) | Josiah Rise 176 (2.72%) | | | Wally Lorenz** Battleford-Cut Knife |
| Lloydminster | | Wayne Byers 1,926 (47.98%) | Milt Wakefield 1,990 (49.58%) | Richard Sparks 98 (2.44%) | | | | Milt Wakefield |
| Meadow Lake | | Maynard Sonntag 3,472 (50.27%) | Ron Dosdall 3,058 (44.27%) | Don Coupland 377(5.46%) | | | | Maynard Sonntag |
| Rosthern-Shellbrook | | John Serhienko 2,598 (36.54%) | Denis Allchurch 3,604 (50.69%) | George Cameron 747 (10.51%) | Laverne Isaac 161 (2.26%) | | | Ben Heppner Rosthern |
| Merged district ||
| Rosthern-Shellbrook | | John Serhienko 2,598 (36.54%) | Denis Allchurch 3,604 (50.69%) | George Cameron 747 (10.51%) | Laverne Isaac 161 (2.26%) | | | Denis Allchurch Shellbrook-Spiritwood |
| The Battlefords | | Len Taylor 3,056 (42.53%) | Larry Doke 1,856 (25.83%) | Jack Hillson 2,134 (29.70%) | Gordon Elias 139 (1.94%) | | | Jack Hillson North Battleford |

### Northeast Saskatchewan

| Electoral District | Electoral District | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Electoral District | Electoral District | New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party | Liberal | New Green Alliance | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Batoche | | Ava Bear 2,778 (36.32%) | Delbert Kirsch 3,356 (43.87%) | Bill Yeaman 1,300 (16.99%) | Gordon Robert Dumont 76 (0.99%) | Florence Rabut (WIP) 140 (1.83%) | New District | New District |
| Canora-Pelly | | Brian Rusnak 3,008 (37.80%) | Ken Krawetz 4,198 (52.75%) | Arlene Cote 580 (7.29%) | | David Sawkiw (WIP) 172 (2.16%) | | Ken Krawetz |
| Carrot River Valley | | Mark Pitzel 3,114 (42.02%) | Allan Kerpan 3,474 (46.88%) | Kathy McIntyre 823 (11.10%) | | | | Allan Kerpan |
| Cumberland | | Joan Beatty 3,281 (68.96%) | Winston McKay 1,035 (21.75%) | Allan Adam 388 (8.16%) | | Ari Avivi (PC) 54 (1.13%) | | Keith Goulet** |
| Kelvington-Wadena | | Ryan Calder 2,461 (31.43%) | June Draude 4,515 (57.66%) | Harry Kerr 542 (6.92%) | | Neil Fenske (WIP) 312 (3.99%) | | June Draude |
| Melfort | | Garnet Davis 2,833 (38.25%) | Rod Gantefoer 4,060 (54.82%) | Bernie Yuzdepski 513 (6.93%) | | | | Rod Gantefoer Melfort-Tisdale |
| Prince Albert Carlton | | Myron Kowalsky 3,865 (58.59%) | Bert Provost 1,891 (28.66%) | Carman Cripps 744 (11.28%) | Jayna Lacey 71 (1.08%) | Davey Clinton (Ind.) 26 (0.39%) | | Myron Kowalsky |
| Prince Albert Northcote | | Eldon Lautermilch 3,286 (56.89%) | Peter Abrametz 1,554 (28.90%) | Brent Zbaraschuk 783 (13.56%) | Ben Webster 153 (2.65%) | | | Eldon Lautermilch |
| Saskatchewan Rivers | | Lon Borgerson 3,446 (47.65%) | Daryl Wiberg 2,833 (39.27%) | Cliff Rose 765 (10.58%) | Gerald Regnitter 188 (2.60%) | | | Daryl Wiberg |

### West Central Saskatchewan

| Electoral District | Electoral District | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Electoral District | Electoral District | New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party | Liberal | Western Independence | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Arm River-Watrous | | Carol Rowan 3,193 (38.23%) | Greg Brkich 4,009 (48.01%) | Steven Barlow 922 (11.04%) | Gord Anderson 162 (1.94%) | Gord Pederson (Ind.) 65 (0.78%) | | Greg Brkich Arm River |
| Merged district ||
| Arm River-Watrous | | Carol Rowan 3,193 (38.23%) | Greg Brkich 4,009 (48.01%) | Steven Barlow 922 (11.04%) | Gord Anderson 162 (1.94%) | Gord Pederson (Ind.) 65 (0.78%) | | Donna Harpauer Watrous |
| Biggar | | Lee Pearce 2,639 (36.11%) | Randy Weekes 3,917 (53.61%) | Steven Dribnenki 751 (10.28%) | | | | Randy Weekes Redberry Lake |
| Humboldt | | Bryan Barnes 3,291 (39.89%) | Donna Harpauer 3,464 (41.99%) | Les Alm 1,495 (18.12%) | Del Anderson 138 | | | Arlene Julé** |
| Kindersley | | Blair McDaid 1,443 (22.05%) | Jason Dearborn 3,960 (60.50%) | Del Price 1,142 (17.45%) | | | | Jason Dearborn |
| Martensville | | Zane Dmytryshyn 1,836 (26.87%) | Ben Heppner 3,778 (55.28%) | Allan Earle 1,135 (16.61%) | Warren Fehr 85 (1.24%) | | | Ben Heppner Rosthern |
| Rosetown-Elrose | | Jack Randall Mason 2,200 (27.06%) | Elwin Hermanson 5,173 (63.62%) | Janay Volk 758 (9.32%) | | | | Elwin Hermanson Rosetown-Biggar |

### Southwest Saskatchewan

| Electoral District | Electoral District | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Electoral District | Electoral District | New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party | Liberal | Western Independence | New Green Alliance | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cypress Hills | | Eric August 1,418 (20.81%) | Wayne Elhard 4,458 (65.42%) | Barry Thienes 938 (13.77%) | | | | Wayne Elhard |
| Moose Jaw North | | Glenn Hagel 4,580 (57.86%) | Darin Chow 2,838 (35.85%) | Dean Legaré 431 (5.44%) | | Michael Wright 67 (0.85%) | | Glenn Hagel |
| Moose Jaw Wakamow | | Deb Higgins 4,394 (62.60%) | Gwen Beitel 2,129 (30.33%) | Robert Cosman 429 (6.11%) | | Marcella Gall 67 (0.96%) | | Deb Higgins |
| Swift Current | | Dean Smith 2,707 (36.64%) | Brad Wall 4,312 (58.37%) | Mike Burton 369 (4.99%) | | | | Brad Wall |
| Thunder Creek | | Larry Hall 2,572 (30.92%) | Lyle Stewart 4,450 (53.50%) | Rod Haugerud 1,132 (13.61%) | Harold Stephan 164 (1.97%) | | | Lyle Stewart |
| Wood River | | Trevor Davies 2,043 (25.98%) | Yogi Huyghebaert 4,350 (55.32%) | Louis Stringer 1,264 (16.07%) | Nick Yorga 207 (2.63%) | | | Yogi Huyghebaert |

### Southeast Saskatchewan

| Electoral District | Electoral District | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Electoral District | Electoral District | New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party | Liberal | Western Independence | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Cannington | | Henry Friesen 1,569 (21.70%) | Dan D'Autremont 5,115 (70.74%) | John Atwell 547 (7.56%) | | | | Dan D'Autremont |
| Estevan | | David Pattyson 2,154 (31.39%) | Doreen Eagles 3,522 (51.32%) | Tim Seipp 1,095 (15.96%) | | Sigfredo Gonzales (NGA) 91 (1.33%) | | Doreen Eagles |
| Indian Head-Milestone | | Lorne Scott 3,258 (39.43%) | Don McMorris 4,070 (49.26%) | Anthony Gavrielides 724 (8.76%) | Ron Borys 211 (2.55%) | | | Don McMorris |
| Last Mountain-Touchwood | | Jordon Hillier 3,055 (39.75%) | Glen Hart 3,722 (48.42%) | Greg Burton 704 (9.16%) | Merv Werk 205 (2.67%) | | | Glen Hart |
| Melville-Saltcoats | | Ron Osika 2,858 (32.20%) | Bob Bjornerud 3,462 (39.01%) | Brian Tochor 880 (9.92%) | | Grant Schmidt (Ind.) 1,675 (18.87%) | | Ron Osika Melville |
| Merged district ||
| Melville-Saltcoats | | Ron Osika 2,858 (32.20%) | Bob Bjornerud 3,462 (39.01%) | Brian Tochor 880 (9.92%) | | Grant Schmidt (Ind.) 1,675 (18.87%) | | Bob Bjornerud Saltcoats |
| Moosomin | | Robert Stringer 2,268 (30.89%) | Don Toth 4,400 (59.92%) | Bryn Hirsch 506 (6.89%) | Frank Serfas 169 (2.30%) | | | Don Toth |
| Weyburn-Big Muddy | | Sherry Leach 3,491 (40.64%) | Brenda Bakken 3,876 (45.12%) | Janet Ledingham 1,223 (14.24%) | | | | Brenda Bakken |
| Yorkton | | Clay Serby 3,993 (51.53%) | Randy Atkinson 3,163 (40.82%) | Chuck Gunning 371 (4.79%) | Bruce Ritter 222 (2.86%) | | | Clay Serby |

### Saskatoon

| Electoral District | Electoral District | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Electoral District | Electoral District | New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party | Liberal | New Green Alliance | Progressive Conservative | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Saskatoon Centre | | David Forbes 3,607 (61.85%) | Roger Parent 1,165 (19.98%) | Richard Clatney 907 (15.55%) | | Betty Korkin 153 (2.62%) | | David Forbes Saskatoon Idylwyld |
| Saskatoon Eastview | | Judy Junor 4,164 (44.64%) | Robin Bellamy 2,572 (27.57%) | Rob Norris 2,482 (26.61%) | Sandy Ervin 110 (1.18%) | | | Judy Junor |
| Saskatoon Fairview | | Andy Iwanchuk 3,105 (55.28%) | Jim McAllister 1,383 (24.62%) | Rik Steernburg 1,037 (18.46%) | Jason Hanson 41 (0.73%) | Gwen Katzman 51 (0.91%) | | Andy Iwanchuk |
| Saskatoon Greystone | | Peter Prebble 4,317 (49.16%) | Kevin Waugh 2,855 (32.51%) | Herta Barron 1,558 (17.74%) | Brian Berezowski 50 (0.59%) | | | Peter Prebble |
| Saskatoon Massey Place | | Eric Cline 4,023 (61.40%) | Philipp Strenger 1,413 (21.57%) | Myron Luzkca 970 (14.80%) | Ryan John Taylor 61 (0.93%) | David Connor 85 (1.30%) | | Eric Cline Saskatoon Mount Royal |
| Saskatoon Meewasin | | Frank Quennell 3,256 (40.88%) | Shelley Hengen 1,989 (24.98%) | David Karwacki 2,642 (33.17%) | David Greenfield 77 (0.97%) | | | Carolyn Jones** |
| Saskatoon Northwest | | Jim Melenchuk 2,943 (37.35%) | Ted Merriman 3,209 (40.72%) | Ken McDonough 1,728 (21.93%) | | | | Jim Melenchuk |
| Saskatoon Nutana | | Pat Atkinson 4,593 (55.47%) | Sandy Ewert 1,549 (18.71%) | Grant Karwacki 1,946 (23.50%) | Neal Anderson 192 (2.32%) | | | Pat Atkinson |
| Saskatoon Riversdale | | Lorne Calvert 3,608 (62.72%) | Fred Ozirney 1,302 (22.63%) | Deneen Gudjonson 754 (13.11%) | Keith Morvick 52 (0.90%) | Glen Schreiner 37 (0.64%) | | Lorne Calvert |
| Saskatoon Silver Springs | | Russell Scott 3,490 (38.99%) | Ken Cheveldayoff 4,005 (44.74%) | Shawn Flett 1,457 (16.27%) | | | New District | New District |
| Saskatoon Southeast | | John Conway 2,738 (32.96%) | Don Morgan 3,355 (40.38%) | Zoria Broughton 2,164 (26.05%) | Neil Sinclair 51 (0.61%) | | | Pat Lorje** |
| Saskatoon Sutherland | | Graham Addley 3,616 (46.59%) | Patrick Bundrock 2,043 (26.32%) | Mark Kelleher 1,988 (25.32%) | Lynn Oliphant 114 (1.47%) | | | Graham Addley |

### Regina

| Electoral District | Electoral District | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Electoral District | Electoral District | New Democratic | Saskatchewan Party | Liberal | New Green Alliance | Progressive Conservative | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Regina Coronation Park | | Kim Trew 4,439 (62.85%) | Robert Taylor 1,665 (23.57%) | Edgar Sauer 849 (12.02%) | Kim Weiss 63 (0.89%) | Kenneth Johnson 47 (0.67%) | | | Kim Trew |
| Regina Dewdney | | Kevin Yates 4,153 (55.08%) | Rob Bresciani 2,148 (28.49%) | Simone Clayton 1,165 (15.45%) | Darcy Robillard 35 (0.46%) | | Blaine Gilbertson (Ind.) 39 (0.52%) | | Kevin Yates |
| Regina Douglas Park | | Harry Van Mulligen 5,136 (57.26%) | Laura Ross 1,900 (21.18%) | Mike Farmer 1,703 (18.99%) | Dave Orban 148 (1.65%) | Wayne Mastrachuk 83 (0.92%) | | | Harry Van Mulligen Regina Victoria |
| Regina Elphinstone-Centre | | Warren McCall 3,078 (66.39%) | Angie Roe 792 (17.09%) | Paul Compton 574 (12.38%) | John Warnock 110 (2.37%) | Janice Schreiner 44 (0.95%) | Carl Barabonoff (WIP) 38 (0.82%) | | Warren McCall Regina Elphinstone |
| Merged district ||
| Regina Elphinstone-Centre | | Warren McCall 3,078 (66.39%) | Angie Roe 792 (17.09%) | Paul Compton 574 (12.38%) | John Warnock 110 (2.37%) | Janice Schreiner 44 (0.95%) | Carl Barabonoff (WIP) 38 (0.82%) | | Joanne Crofford Regina Centre |
| Regina Lakeview | | John Nilson 4,988 (56.91%) | Michelle Hunter 1,781 (20.32%) | Dave Brundige 1,875 (21.39%) | Brian Rands 121 (1.38%) | | | | John Nilson |
| Regina Northeast | | Ron Harper 4,428 (61.30%) | Dwayne Walter 1,637 (22.66%) | Dennis Hydamacka 1,034 (14.31%) | Susan Ferren 62 (0.86%) | George Marcotte 63 (0.87%) | | | Ron Harper |
| Regina Qu'Appelle Valley | | Mark Wartman 4,694 (56.90%) | Darlene Hincks 2,615 (31.70%) | Marlin Belt 875 (10.60%) | Kelsey Pearson 39 (0.47%) | | Angela Barabonoff (WIP) 27 (0.33%) | | Mark Wartman |
| Regina Rosemont | | Joanne Crofford 4,226 (62.05%) | Morris Elfenbaum 1,477 (21.69%) | Sherry Banadyga 990 (14.54%) | Victor Lau 76 (1.12%) | Vanessa Slater 41 (0.60%) | | New District | New District |
| Regina South | | Andrew Thomson 4,662 (49.47%) | Jim Roberts 2,646 (28.08%) | Debbie Ward 1,994 (21.16%) | Garry Ewart 97 (1.03%) | | Shea Ritter (WIP) 25 (0.26%) | | Andrew Thomson |
| Regina Walsh Acres | | Sandra Morin 4,594 (62.85%) | Mike Shenher 1,693 (23.16%) | Perry Juttla 766 (10.48%) | Nigel Taylor 64 (0.88%) | | Lindy Kasperski (Ind.) 192 (2.63%) | | Lindy Kasperski Regina Sherwood |
| Regina Wascana Plains | | Doreen Hamilton 3,951 (43.38%) | Dan Thibault 3,438 (37.75%) | Frank William Proto 1,672 (18.36%) | John Keen 47 (0.51%) | | | | Doreen Hamilton |

## Opinion polls
### CBC Saskatchewan (October 20 – 26, 2003)

NDP – 42% Saskatchewan Party – 39% Liberals – 18% Other – 1%

### Cutler Poll (October 29–November 5, 2003)

NDP – 47% Saskatchewan Party – 37% Liberals – 14% Other – 2%