Analysis by Brandon Harder
Barring catastrophe, the Saskatchewan Party look to be a shoo-in to form another majority government following the April 4 election. A struggling economy, a mounting deficit, sins of past conservatives and a strong NDP legacy should all be dogging the incumbents in the run-up to the election. But they’re not.
Read more: Sask party looks poised to win despite financial woes
Backgrounder by Joelle Seal
As voters head to the polls, economy and environment are often posed as conflicting priorities for Saskatchewan. With an economy that relies heavily on natural resource development, policies that may mitigate climate change, such as a carbon tax, can be seen as detrimental to our economy. The current economic downturn makes the possibility of more economic hardship a frightening prospect for many Saskatchewan voters.
Backgrounder by Jessie Anton
On March 21, 2012, the Saskatchewan Party government discontinued the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit, shocking the local film industry and the province’s Chamber of Commerce alike. Although there was no talk of the film tax credit during the 2011 provincial election, the subsidy has resurfaced in 2016 party platforms, being the first topic of discussion at the provincial leaders’ debate on March 23, 2016.
Analysis by Alex Johnson
The Saskatchewan Party may have missed the mark with their proposed Graduation Retention Program, aimed to keep post-secondary students living and working in the province. At first glance it looks like graduates will benefit from the incentive, but the real winners are existing homeowners, realtors, and lawyers.
Read more: Proposed home buyer incentives try to anchor grads
Backgrounder by Tennessa Wild
Agriculture employs over 50,000 people in Saskathewan and is a major driver of provincial exports. Come election time, it matters. As a cornerstone of Saskatchewan heritage, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure the industry stays strong and viable for future generations.
Read more: AgDebate 2016 warms up political parties for election day
Analysis by Richelle Peace
Saskatchewan’s economy has been booming since the late 90s and now it is steadily falling because of a number of reasons that Cam Broten, New Democrat Party leader is promising to change.
Analysis by Allison Bamford
In the days leading up to an election, Saskatchewan voters can expect to see a vast array of proposed policies around healthcare, education, the environment and, of course, the economy. However, one item not being discussed in this year’s election platforms is the Active Families Benefit.
Read more: Active Families Benefit falls short of being beneficial
Backgrounder by Busayo Osobade
Saskatchewan residents who are out of the province on election day are encouraged to use the various options available to cast their vote and make their voice heard. If you are a student, studying outside the province or a traveler enjoying a holiday abroad, you can and should exercise your right to vote.
Backgrounder by Laura Beamish
In Canada, the federal and provincial governments must work together to function at full capacity and allow citizens to enjoy life, liberty, and security of the person. But these days, Saskatchewan and Ottawa rarely see eye to eye, making it difficult to achieve anything positive.
Analysis by Cheryl Lu
The result of the provincial election might impact the University of Regina’s students financially - or not.
Backgrounder by Emily Pasiuk
If you’re new to the province and you bring up the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan you might get either a scoff or an understanding smile that seems to say, "You don’t know the half of it." Most people just seem to know the discourse surrounding the PCs is tense and coloured with scandal; it’s as though it were an integral part of being Saskatchewanian.
Read more: The PC Party of Saskatchewan: scandal and collapse
Analysis by Michael Joel-Hansen
When the Saskatchewan Party government announced that it planned to partially privatize Saskatchewan’s public liquor retail system there should have been very little surprise from a political perspective. The fact that a center-right government would make such a move makes a great deal of sense, in that many of those who support the party view liquor retail as a business that should be left to the private sector.
Read more: Liquor privatization front and center this election season
Backgrounder by Alex Antoneshyn
If you’re between the ages of 18 and 34, there’s a 57 per cent chance you’re reading this on your mobile phone. The older you are, the same likelihood decreases, but one fact remains: a growing number of Canadians are reaching to their phones for news.