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Manitoba, Saskatchewan Elections: Ridings To Watch On The Prairies

Prairie Elections: Ridings To Watch
CP File

The elections in Manitoba and Saskatchewan being held in October and November could not be more different. In Manitoba, the New Democrats are running neck-and-neck with the Tories in their bid for a fourth mandate, while next door, the Saskatchewan Party is nearly 30 points ahead of the NDP in its quest for their first re-election. But in each province there are a number of interesting races to watch.

Brandon West (MB): This was one of the few Tory gains in the 2007 election, thanks to the candidature of former MP and Brandon mayor Rick Borotsik. However, Borotsik is not running again and the Tory banner will instead by carried by Reg Helwer. Jim Murray of the NDP will try to take this seat back for his party.

Dauphin (MB): Stan Struthers, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives in Premier Greg Selinger’s cabinet, could have a tough fight ahead of him. Lloyd McKinney will try to gain the seat for the Tories, whose federal counterparts won the larger Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette riding with 63 per cent of the vote.

Moose Jaw North (SK): This riding was decided by only 33 votes in the 2007 election. The Saskatchewan Party won this seat, which had been held by the NDP since 1986. Derek Hassen of the NDP will try to win the seat back from Warren Michelson.

Prince Albert Carlton (SK): This was another close race in the 2007 election, won by the Saskatchewan Party by only 61 votes. Darryl Hickie, Minister of Municipal Affairs, could have a tough electoral battle on his hands. Though the riding is safely Conservative at the federal level, it has voted NDP at the provincial level since its creation in 1991.

Regina Dewdney (SK): Kevin Yates, who has held the riding since 1999, won this eastern Regina seat for the NDP with 46 per cent of the vote in 2007, six points ahead of the Saskatchewan Party. But this time, Premier Brad Wall’s party will have Gene Makowsky, former CFL All-Star for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Grey Cup winner, on the ballot. With the polls already in Wall’s favour, Makowsky could put them over the top.

St. Norbert (MB): A New Democratic seat without an incumbent, this could be a gain for the Tories. Karen Velthuys will be running for the PCs. The Liberal candidature of Marcel Laurendeau, former PC MLA in the province, could shake things up.

Saskatoon Meewasin (SK): This riding has been held by the NDP since its creation in 1995, and Frank Quennell will be seeking re-election after taking 35 per cent of the vote in 2007. But it has been a close race for the last two elections due to the presence of the Liberal Party leader, who has since stepped down. This could open up the door to the Saskatchewan Party’s Roger Parent.

Saskatoon Sutherland (SK): One of many urban gains by the Saskatchewan Party in the 2007 election, this could be one of the few ridings that the NDP steals away from the government. The riding was formerly held by the NDP since 1986, and Joceline Schriemer, the Saskatchewan Party MLA, will not be running for re-election. SP’s Paul Merriman, whose father had been an MLA, will try to hold the seat against NDP candidate Naveed Anwar.

Southdale (MB): Held by Erin Selby, the Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, this Winnipeg riding could be a gain for the Progressive Conservatives. Southdale is in the federal riding of Saint Boniface, which was won by the Conservatives in the May general election with 50 per cent of the vote.

Tyndall Park (MB): This riding contains part of the old riding of Inkster, which was held by Liberal MLA Kevin Lamoureux until his recent and successful run for federal office. Straddling Lamoureux’s federal riding of Winnipeg North and the federal NDP riding of Winnipeg Centre, Tyndall Park is the Liberal Party’s best chance of winning a second seat in the Manitoba legislature.

Éric Grenier taps The Pulse of federal and regional politics for Huffington Post Canada readers on Tuesdays and Fridays. Grenier is the author of ThreeHundredEight.com, covering Canadian politics, polls and electoral projections.

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