Saskatchewan Party

The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Since 2007, it has been the governing party of the province. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (NDP) from power.

The Saskatchewan Party served as the province's Official Opposition until the provincial election on November 7, 2007. The Saskatchewan Party won 38 seats in the Legislative Assembly, and leader Brad Wall was sworn in as the province's 14th Premier on November 21, 2007. During the November 7, 2011 general election, the party won a landslide victory, winning 49 of 58 seats – the third largest majority government in Saskatchewan's history.

Origins of the party and political basis

Historically, Saskatchewan politics has tended towards a two-party system, with third parties enjoying limited political success. For the first 25 years of the province's existence, political power was split between the Saskatchewan Liberal Party in government, and the Conservatives (initially the Provincial Rights Party) in opposition. The emergence of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), forerunner of the NDP – a social democratic political party formed by the coming together of various socialist, agrarian and labour groups under a united front – forced the Liberals to the right. As a result of vote-splitting with the Liberals, the less popular Tories gradually lost ground in the Legislative Assembly, and were completely shut out of the chamber for all but one term from 1934 to 1975.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan (ⁱ/səˈskætʃəwᵻn/ or /səˈskætʃəˌwɑːn/) is a prairie province in Canada, which has a total area of 651,900 square kilometres (251,700 sq mi) and a land area of 592,534 square kilometres (228,800 sq mi), the remainder being water area (covered by lakes/ponds, reservoirs and rivers). Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the American states of Montana and North Dakota. As of December 2013, the population of Saskatchewan was estimated at 1,114,170. Residents primarily live in the southern half of the province. Of the total population, 257,300 live in the province's largest city, Saskatoon, while 210,000 live in the provincial capital, Regina. Other major cities include Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Estevan, Swift Current, and North Battleford.

Saskatchewan is a landlocked province with large distances to moderating bodies of waters. As a result, its climate is extremely continental, rendering severe winters all throughout the province. Southern areas have very warm or hot summers. Midale and Yellow Grass near the U.S. border are tied for the highest ever recorded temperatures in Canada with 45 °C (113 °F) observed at both locations in July 1937. In winter, temperatures below −45 °C (−49 °F) are possible even in the south during extreme cold snaps.

Saskatchewan (disambiguation)

Saskatchewan is a word originating from Cree language kisiskāciwani-sīpiy, meaning "swift flowing river". It may refer to:

Places

Other

Saskatchewan (Provisional District)

The Provisional District of Saskatchewan was a federal electoral district in Northwest Territories, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1887 to 1905.

This riding was created in 1886. It consisted of the Provisional District of Saskatchewan.

The electoral district of Saskatchewan was originally within the geographical region of the Northwest Territories. With the creation of the province of Saskatchewan in 1905, this riding, with territory in Alberta as well, was replaced in 1907 by Saskatchewan riding within the province of Saskatchewan.

Election results

By-election: Hon. W. Laurier appointed Prime Minister, 11 July 1896

See also

External links