Saskatchewan Minute: Acclaimed Mayors, Carbon Tax, and One Moe Majority

Saskatchewan Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Saskatchewan politics.

This Week In Saskatchewan:

• Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party will once again form government though exact results are not yet final. (See below for more info!). The party secured a fifth consecutive majority government, although it lost ground in Regina and Saskatoon to the Saskatchewan NDP. The NDP, under Carla Beck, saw significant gains in urban areas, claiming all seats in Regina and most in Saskatoon, yet struggled to make inroads in rural regions where the Saskatchewan Party maintained strong support. Despite urban losses, the Saskatchewan Party still captured over half of the popular vote.
  
  
• Conservation officers are investigating the illegal shooting of about 100 snow geese left to waste near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The geese were found on a slough near Township Road #190, approximately six kilometers west of Tuxford and 22 kilometers north of Moose Jaw. Authorities believe the birds were killed over several days between October 16th and October 24th. The Ministry of Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety is seeking public assistance, encouraging anyone who noticed unusual activity to contact local conservation officers or the Saskatchewan Turn in Poachers & Polluters line.
  
  
• In several rural Saskatchewan communities, including Warman, Rosthern, and Osler, incumbent mayors are being acclaimed for another term. The lack of candidates is raising concerns, with some suggesting social media’s role in public criticism may deter people from running for office.

Last Week In Saskatchewan:

• The Saskatoon Westview riding shifted to NDP after the second preliminary count. The updated count showed a narrow victory, with 3,501 votes for the NDP compared to 3,464 for the Sask. Party. The final count, which will include mail-in ballots received up to November 7th, is scheduled for November 9th. The Chief Electoral Officer said that recounts may occur if requested by candidates.
  
  
• SaskPower has reintroduced a 60% reduction in the federal carbon tax for customers using electric heating, effective until April 30th, 2025. This program aims to lower monthly carbon tax costs by up to $21, depending on winter weather and power usage. Previously, from January to April 2024, SaskPower provided $1.3 million in relief through this initiative. Saskatchewan also paused carbon tax collection on natural gas for heating in response to an unfair exemption for heating oil granted to Atlantic Canada. Currently, Saskatchewan is pursuing a larger constitutional challenge against the collection discrepancy in federal court.
  
  
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic reached a record enrolment of 11,849 students for the 2024-25 fall term, marking a 3% increase from the previous year. The institution’s President attributes this growth to the Polytechnic’s applied education programs, which align with students' career goals and workforce demands. Indigenous enrolment rose by 4%, reaching a five-year high. International enrolments also grew by 5%. Plans for a new central campus in Saskatoon are underway, with construction expected to begin in 2026 as part of a $100 million capital campaign.