The 2016 Saskatchewan general election was held on April 4, 2016, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. All 61 seats in the legislature were contested.
Background
The election was called by Premier Brad Wall, leader of the Saskatchewan Party, who had served as premier since 2007. The governing Saskatchewan Party sought a fourth consecutive term. The main opposition party was the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Cam Broten. Other parties that fielded candidates included the Liberal Party, the Green Party, and the Progressive Conservative Party, though none were expected to win seats.
Election Results
| Party | Leader | Seats won | Seat change | Popular vote | Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saskatchewan Party | Brad Wall | 51 | +7 | 306,405 | 62.72 % |
| New Democratic Party | Cam Broten | 10 | –7 | 139,819 | 28.64 % |
| Liberal Party | Ken Grey | 0 | – | 7,739 | 1.59 % |
| Green Party | Naomi Hunter | 0 | – | 5,129 | 1.05 % |
| Progressive Conservative | Ken McDonald | 0 | – | 2,896 | 0.59 % |
| Others / Independents | – | 0 | – | 7,322 | 1.50 % |
| Total | – | 61 | – | 469,310 | 100 % |
The Saskatchewan Party secured a decisive majority, winning 51 of the 61 seats, an increase of seven seats from the previous legislature. The NDP retained ten seats, a reduction of seven. No other party won any seats.
Voter Turnout
Voter turnout was 52.9 % of registered electors, a slight decline compared to the 2011 election.
Post‑Election Developments
Brad Wall announced his intention to retire as premier and party leader later in 2016; he was succeeded by Scott Moe in January 2018. Cam Broten resigned as NDP leader following the election and was succeeded by Ryan Meili in March 2018.
Significance
The election reinforced the Saskatchewan Party's dominance in provincial politics and marked the final election contested by Brad Wall as premier. The result also reflected continued support for the party’s policies on resource development, fiscal management, and rural issues within Saskatchewan.
