Representation, strategy or both? Sask. election sees increase in racialized immigrant candidates

Saskatchewan's 2024 provincial election features an increase of racialized immigrant candidates, which an expert says makes strategic sense.

In the 2020 provincial elections, the NDP ran many racialized immigrant candidates in Saskatoon and Regina.

This time the Sask. Party has 13 such candidates to the NDP's three. Those numbers don't include Indigenous candidates on either side; only candidates who immigrated to Canada at some point in their life.

Daniel Westlake, assistant professor in the department of political studies at University of Saskatchewan, said as Saskatchewan becomes more diverse, there's more pressure on the parties to nominate a more diverse slate of candidates.

"Sask. Party doesn't surprise me, but I am surprised not to see the NDP with more ethnic, racialized minority candidates," he said. "In large part because the NDP has been quite proactive in a lot of other provinces at ensuring they've recruited a diverse slate."

Westlake noted that the Sask. NDP has many candidates who are women and people from underrepresented groups such as Indigenous and 2SLGBTQ+ people.

"They kind of missed the need to recruit a more ethnically diverse array of candidates," he said.

Westlake said it is important for parties to represent the voters in the province.

"Voters like to see candidates who look like them, who reflect their backgrounds."

Westlake said it makes sense strategically for parties to try to appeal to immigrant populations. He said the federal Conservative Party and the Ontario Conservative Party have made these kinds of efforts in past elections.

"We know from looking at the federal Conservative Party, really from the Harper years forward, there's a concerted effort to try to win over voters from ethno-racialized minority backgrounds who might have otherwise conservative views," he said.

"I would be shocked if the Saskatchewan Party wasn't thinking in the same terms, watching the province become more diverse, watching suburban ridings that are more competitive become more diverse, and realizing they need to make sure that they're recruiting candidates who can represent that diversity."

In at least seven ridings, first-time ethno-racialized minority candidates will run for the Sask. Party against NDP incumbents:

Westlake said past research has shown political parties are less likely to put up women in competitive ridings, "a dynamic that can be carried over to other underrepresented groups."