Oct 25

Sask Votes '24: The Final Days of Election 2024

Welcome to Municipal Affairs.

With just days remaining until the Saskatchewan Provincial Election on October 28th, we’re diving deep into the state of the race, the key issues shaping voter sentiment, and what the parties are doing in these final hours to secure their base and sway undecided voters.

This election has been anything but ordinary. We’ve seen an intense battle between the long-governing Saskatchewan Party, led by Premier Scott Moe, and the resurgent NDP under Carla Beck’s leadership.

As we inch closer to Election Day, both parties are making their final pushes to capture those all-important swing voters. Polling suggests this election could be a toss-up, but there are battleground ridings that could decide the ultimate victory, particularly in urban centres like Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, an Moose Jaw.

Today we’ll be asking the critical questions. Are voters in this province looking for change, or are they content with the status quo? Have key issues—like healthcare, affordability, and Saskatchewan’s resource-based economy—dominated the conversation enough to shift momentum in these final days? And how is each party trying to manage the urban-rural divide, which remains a key fault line in Saskatchewan politics?

We’ll also explore some of the moments that have stood out in this campaign. Was there a defining moment, perhaps in the Leaders’ Debate, that truly swayed public opinion? And what about voter engagement—are we seeing signs of apathy, or are people gearing up for a major turnout at the polls?

To help unpack all of this, I’m thrilled to be joined by Dale Richardson, Principal at Earnscliffe Strategies and Editor of The SKoop, a top source for political analysis in this province. Dale has been watching this election closely, and there’s no one better to break down the strategies, the surprises, and the key dynamics that will define the final hours of this campaign.