'Spicy grandma' among new projected NDP MLAs excited to tackle health care, education
CBC
The Saskatchewan Party is going back to the legislature with yet another majority. And while the Saskatchewan NDP fell short of returning to power for the first time since 2007, it is projected to make significant gains, with only mail-in ballots left to count.
The NDP is projected to have won 22 seats and is leading in four others still too close to call. This represents a substantial gain for leader Carla Beck's party, which won 13 seats in the 2020 election.
Those gains included several battlegrounds like Regina Northeast, Regina Pasqua, Saskatoon Stonebridge and Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood, where electoral boundary redistribution since 2020 narrowed the Sask. Party's margins of victory.
Saskatchewan's rural-urban divide persisted at the ballot boxes, with the NDP projected to win 11 of Regina's 12 ridings and leading the other, and projected to win or leading in all but two seats in Saskatoon.
CBC spoke with some of the NDP candidates projected to become new MLAs. They said they're eager to get to work on health care and education in particular.
NDP candidate Joan Pratchler, a registered nurse and former teacher and principal, is the projected winner of Regina Rochdale. That seat formerly belonged to Sask. Party candidate and sitting cabinet minister Laura Ross.
On Monday, Pratchler said her professional background helped her on the campaign trail. She said many people whose doors she knocked on said they hadn't seen their former representative for a long time.
"One of the most trusted professions is nursing and the next one is principal," Pratchler said, adding that Rochdale is filled with educators who were not impressed with the Sask. Party's handling of teachers' and students' needs.
Pratchler said people in her constituency believe she can make a difference in the legislature because she has front-line experience.
"From bedside to board table, from classroom to boardroom, I understand what the issues are and now I can stand up for them. And that's what you need in a spicy grandma there," Pratchler said, laughing.
Keith Jorgenson is the projected winner of the Churchill-Wildwood constituency in Saskatoon, unseating long-time Sask. Party incumbent Lisa Lambert. He has worked as an educator and administrator, helping children with complex needs.
Jorgenson said people are excited to see growth of the NDP in Saskatchewan. He called that growth "tremendous."
"There's a desire on my part and [on the] part of a lot of other people who have run for the NDP to try and make their province and their community a better place to live," said Jorgenson.
"This is an opportunity to better our community, get us out of last place in health care and education, and address some of the other problems the province faces."
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