Premier credits pandemic policy for Sask. Party's byelection upset

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is crediting his government's "come back together" approach to the pandemic for its stunning upset in a Tuesday byelection in the province's north.

The Saskatchewan Party's Jim Lemaigre defeated the NDP's Georgina Jolibois, a former Member of Parliament, and two other candidates to win Tuesday's vote in Athabasca — a constituency the Saskatchewan Party has never held before.

Following a preliminary count of ballots, Lemaigre had 1,146 votes (51.4 per cent) of votes counted so far, while Jolibois had 900 votes (40.4 per cent).

The NDP had held the seat since 1998, and it has only ever been held by the NDP, CCF or Liberals.

Calling the Saskatchewan Party victory "historic", Moe told reporters on Wednesday that it was "divisive policies" of other parties that contributed to his party's win.

"As you look at this byelection and the results of this byelection, it really highlights the different approaches that we're seeing with the political parties in this province," Moe said.

In a statement on the byelection released on Wednesday, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili didn't address why he thought his party lost the seat.

Meili congratulated Lemaigre and said he will need to be a "dissenting voice within his own government."

"Whether it's lack of cell coverage, lack of available health services, or crumbling roads, Northerners need a strong advocate in the legislature to bring their voice to Regina," Meili said.

Moe said Lemaigre will be a "very strong voice" for the north in the Saskatchewan Party government.

"I think he'll also be a very strong voice within the government with respect to how we continue down the path of, yes, reconciliation with, our Indigenous, the Indigenous people in our province," Moe said.

Long-time NDP MLA Buckley Belanger created the need for a byelection when he resigned from the seat last summer to run federally.

"I'm not holding my breath for the Sask. Party to do anything significant [for the north]," Belanger said.

However, Belanger said in order for Lemaigre to prove his value as a member of the governing party as he argued during the campaign, northwest Saskatchewan communities will need to see their forestry rights restored, among other things.