Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is savouring his party’s election win, but at the same time offering his support to NDP leader Cam Broten, who lost his own seat in Monday’s provincial election.
Speaking to reporters at the legislature Tuesday morning, the Premier says if Cam Broten wants to take another shot at getting elected, the Sask Party will not stand in his way.
Premier Wall spoke with Broten last night but was not given any indication of what the NDP leader is planning after his party’s poor showing in the election and his own personal defeat in the constituency of Saskatoon Westview.
Wall says he would be prepared to call a quick by-lection if Broten wants to orchestrate that.
“Should Mr. Broten decide that he would perhaps like to run in a byelection if one of his members wants to step aside for him, we would co-operate”, he said. “We would work to call that byelection right away so he could contest a seat in the legislature again.”
Premier Wall says he will be getting down to the business of governing as soon as possible. There will be a caucus meeting on Wednesday.
He will form a new cabinet and once all the results are official, the legislature will be recalled.
“You know, we did not make a lot of promises in the election but we want to reiterate those in a speech from the Throne,” he said. “And shortly after – as soon as possible depending on the timelines finance needs to prepare everything they need – to prepare a budget for the people of Saskatchewan. We expect that to be towards the end of May or maybe June 1st.”
The Sask. Party won 51 of the 61 seats up for grabs, and for the first time in the province’s history a Muslim has been elected to the Saskatchewan legislature. Premier Brad Wall says he is encouraged to seem Muhammad Fiaz take his seat as the Saskatchewan Party member for Regina Pasqua. Wall says the election of the Pakistani immigrant is a reflection of the diversity of Saskatchewan.