Sask. Party, NDP vie for attention, votes in Regina Walsh Acres
CBC
Regina's northwest has become campaign central for the summer as an upcoming bylection has voters seeing signs on lawns and candidates on doorsteps.
Regina Walsh Acres is looking for a new representative four months after the death of Saskatchewan Party MLA Derek Meyers.
Meyers was a newcomer to politics when he was elected in 2020. He was seen as a rising star in the party, popular in the caucus, and a regular at Regina events.
Nevin Markwart will look to hold the seat for the party. He was acclaimed as the candidate on June 5.
As of Friday, Markwart and the NDP's Jared Clarke were the only candidates nominated in the riding.
Clarke ran for the NDP in the 2020 provincial election in Indian Head-Milestone.
As he headed out door-knocking on Wednesday night, Markwart said the first hurdle was informing voters that the byelection is happening.
"This is in some regards a weird election. I've been out with the team for four or five weeks now and it really is about awareness, just letting people know that there's a byelection that's taking place."
The voters in the constituency of Regina Walsh Acres sent New Democrats to the legislature consistently from 1967 to 2011.
But the Saskatchewan Party has held the seat for the last 12 years.
The NDP nominated former MLA Sandra Morin in the 2020 provincial election, but Leader Ryan Meili said findings of a "confidential vetting process" prevented him from endorsing her.
Morin ran as an independent and received 797 votes, and the Saskatchewan Party's Meyers defeated the NDP's Kelly Hardy by 606 votes.
University of Regina professor of politics and international studies Tom McIntosh said those who voted for Morin in that election won't necessarily go for the NDP this time, but not having a former MLA play spoiler should be encouraging for the party.
"It's probably a good motivating factor for the NDP campaign. Whether it makes as big of a difference to the actual vote, I would be less certain of that."
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