There will be no contest for the Saskatchewan Party candidacy in the province’s northwest.
Originally, people in the Athabasca constituency expected to see candidate Vince Natomagan acclaimed at Sask. Party’s nomination meeting.
However, in January Natomagan backed out due family commitments and the Sask. Party’s search for replacements was on.
At the time, the party’s executive director Patrick Bundrock said they had a few people in mind to replace Natomagan.
But now, Bundrock says La Loche businessman Phil Elliot will be acclaimed at their nomination meeting in La Loche on Nov. 3.
“He’s a self-employed business owner in the La Loche area,” Bundrock said, adding that Elliot “actually served as candidate in previous election cycle.”
Bundrock says the day before, Nov. 2, there will be a meeting in Pinehouse.
“It’s an opportunity for the members of the constituency to meet the upcoming candidate and for a chance to have a bit of a question and answer period,” he said.
There’s no word on what happened with other potential candidates.
Buckley Belanger – who’s now with the NDP – has held Athabasca since 1995.
He will face off against Elliot in the April provincial election.