Elections SK hosts annual political party meeting

June 14, 2017 – First Nations participation in provincial electoral processes and the administration of the recent Saskatoon Meewasin by-election were among topics considered during the fifth annual Registered Political Parties Advisory Committee meeting.

Since 2013, Elections SK has hosted Chief Official Agents and other representatives from Saskatchewan’s six registered political parties for a one-day meeting, held this year at the Elections SK head office in Regina on June 14. Attending this year’s meeting were:

  • Dave Abbey, Chief Official Agent, Saskatchewan Green Party
  • Larry Neufeld, Deputy Leader, Saskatchewan Green Party
  • John Tzupa, Chief Official Agent, Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
  • Cathy Duncan, Assistant Provincial Secretary of Administration, Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
  • Grant Schmidt, Chief Official Agent, Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan
  • Stu Esson, Executive Director, Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan
  • Gerry Hiebert, Chief Official Agent, Saskatchewan Liberal Party
  • Patrick Bundrock, Chief Official Agent, Saskatchewan Party
  • Kaitlyn Blackmer, Director of Training & Constituency Organizer, Saskatchewan Party
  • Neil Fenske, Party Leader, Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan; and
  • John Honig, Chief Official Agent, Western Independence Party of Saskatchewan

This year’s agenda included the following presentations:

  • Constituency of Saskatoon Meewasin By-Election Debrief: Dr. Michael Boda, Chief Electoral Officer; Jeff Kress, Deputy Director, Operations; and Jennifer Colin, Deputy CEO, Corporate Services and Electoral Finance
  • First Nations Participation in the Electoral Process: Ron Crowe, Executive in Residence, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
  • The Political Progression Towards Parity: Monique Goffinet Miller, Board of Directors, Canadian Women Voters Congress; and
  • Looking Forward: 2017 and Beyond: Michael Boda, Jeff Kress, and Jennifer Colin

“I look forward to this meeting every year because it is affords an opportunity to connect with leaders and facilitate capacity building within the province’s political parties,” says Dr. Michael Boda, Chief Electoral Officer of Saskatchewan. “As election administrators, we also learn a great deal each year from participants about how we can more effectively serve parties and candidates from across the political spectrum. As an institution, it is our goal to continue to evolve in order to meet their needs as we move toward the next provincial election.”

Elections Saskatchewan is the province’s independent, impartial, professional election management body. Given a mandate from the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly, it organizes, manages and oversees provincial electoral events. Find information for voters, workers, media, candidates and parties at www.elections.sk.ca.

For more information contact:

Tim Kydd
Senior Director, Outreach & Communications
Elections Saskatchewan
tim.kydd@elections.sk.ca
306-787-7355