Sask. now Canada's Tory stronghold as election delivers status quo, few surprises

Election night in Saskatchewan was bereft of surprises, say political analysts in the province, as the Conservative Party's blue fortress held up against challenges from the left and the right.

"I don't think there are any surprises. I think Saskatchewan is what we thought it was with respect to its voting behaviour and voting pattern," said Daniel Westlake, assistant professor of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan voters delivered the Conservative Party its strongest support in Canada with nearly 60 per cent of all votes in the province, eclipsing Alberta's 55 per cent. 

Saskatchewan is the only province not to elect a single Liberal. 

"We are probably the most conservative province in the country on a lot of metrics," said Jim Farney, associate professor at the Johnson Shoyama graduate school of public policy.  

Farney said he thought a return to 2015's electoral map, which had the NDP winning three seats, was possible.

He said he did not expect such a large margin of victory for the Conservatives in the province's northern riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, which featured long-time NDP MLA turned federal Liberal Buckley Belanger finishing a distant second to CPC incumbent Gary Vidal.