Re-elected Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks to media, following his party winning a majority government in the provincial election, at the hockey rink in Shellbrook, SASK. on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…
Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party won a fifth consecutive majority government Monday, losing in the big cities but retaining its iron grip on rural areas to secure victory.
Moe’s party was shut out by Carla Beck’s NDP in Regina and lost all but one seat in Saskatoon.
But it found enough support everywhere else to be elected in 34 seats in the 61-seat legislature, compared with 27 for the NDP.
“Thank you once again, Saskatchewan for placing your trust in our party, the Saskatchewan Party,” Moe said as supporters in Shellbrook clapped and whooped.
“This was a much closer election than we’ve seen for some time.”
He said his government heard the message sent by voters that there is unhappiness in how the province is delivering health care, education and making life affordable.
“We must do better and we most certainly will,” he said.
The New Democrats effectively doubled their seat total from the 14 it had at dissolution, retaining seats and gaining more in Regina and Saskatoon. In doing so, they defeated Saskatoon cabinet ministers Christine Tell, Bronwyn Eyre and Paul Merriman along with Regina’s Laura Ross and Gene Makowsky.
Beck retained her seat in Regina Lakeview.
The NDP also gained back the rural northern riding of Athabasca, which it won in 2020 only to lose to the Saskatchewan Party in a subsequent byelection.
But with 31 rural seats to 30 urban ones, the NDP’s margin of error was razor thin. It needed wins in the two seats in Moose Jaw and the two in Prince Albert – but failed to get them.
Here’s what else we’re watching…
Eby’s NDP get slim majority, but face recounts
Elections BC says a final vote count in British Columbia’s Oct. 19 provincial election has given Premier David Eby’s New Democrats 47 seats, just enough to form a majority government.
Forty-seven is the magic number for a majority in B.C.’s 93-seat legislature.
But Elections BC says two seats are subject to automatic judicial recounts because the results in the ridings of Kelowna Centre and Surrey-Guildford are too close.
The B.C. Conservatives, who won 44 seats, are currently ahead in Kelowna Centre and the NDP are leading in Surrey-Guildford.
Both Eby and B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad have scheduled news conferences today in Victoria.
N.S. election: Party leaders in Halifax area
Nova Scotia’s three major political parties are hitting the campaign trail this morning with events in the Halifax area.
The NDP will be holding a media briefing on housing at an apartment building in Dartmouth.
The Liberals will also be in Dartmouth, at a supermarket to speak with reporters about affordability for working families.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Conservatives are scheduled to make a morning announcement in Halifax.
On the campaign trail Monday, the Tories promised to reduce income taxes and raise the minimum wage, and the Liberals pledged changes aimed at battling public cynicism in politics.
House committee to probe India allegations
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme is among a slate of top security officials set to meet the House of Commons national security committee, weeks after making explosive allegations against the Indian government.
On Oct. 14, the RCMP alleged Indian diplomats and consular officials were persons of interest in cases of extortion, coercion and violence, including murder, that targeted Canadian citizens.
The RCMP said it took the extraordinary step of talking publicly about ongoing investigations because of threats to public safety.
That same day, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced Canada was expelling the Indian high commissioner and five other diplomats.
The Indian government denies the allegations and has expelled six Canadian diplomats.
Liberals reach Bloc Québécois support deadline
The Bloc Québécois is poised to begin talks with other parties to bring down the minority Liberal government, which has not met its deadline to pass two key bills.
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet set the deadline last month, putting the Liberals on notice that to avoid an election “before Christmas” they must adopt a pair of private member’s bills.
One of the Bloc bills aimed at safeguarding supply management in trade negotiations has the support of the government and is being studied by the Senate.
The other, which would raise old age security payments for seniors under 75, is one the Liberals say they do not support.
The Bloc demands came weeks after NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced his party had ended the supply-and-confidence deal that gave the government support for more than two years.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2024
