2017 Battlefords—Lloydminster federal by-election
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2017 Battlefords—Lloydminster federal by-election
| country = Canada
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| party_colour = no
| party_name = no
| previous_election = 2015 Canadian federal election
| previous_year = 2015
| election_date = {{Start date|2017|12|11}}
| next_election = 2019 Canadian federal election
| next_year = 2019
| seats_for_election = Seat of Battlefords—Lloydminster
| turnout = 27.05% ({{decrease}} 39.46pp)
| image1 = x160px
| colour1 = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|nohash}}
| party1 = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|name}}
| popular_vote1 = 8,965
| percentage1 = 69.56%
| swing1 = {{increase}} 8.55pp
| image2 =
| colour2 = {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|nohash}}
| party2 = {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|name}}
| popular_vote2 = 1,698
| percentage2 = 13.17%
| swing2 = {{decrease}} 4.44pp
| image4 =
| colour4 = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|nohash}}
| party4 = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|name}}
| popular_vote4 = 1,345
| percentage4 = 10.44%
| swing4 = {{decrease}} 6.04pp
| image5 =
| colour5 = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Indepdendent|nohash}}
| party5 = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Independent|name}}
| popular_vote5 = 681
| percentage5 = 5.28%
| swing5 = {{color|grey|N/A}}
| title = MP
| before_election = Gerry Ritz
| before_party = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|name}}
| posttitle = Elected MP
| after_election = Rosemarie Falk
| after_party = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|name}}
| candidate1 = Rosemarie Falk
| candidate2 = Matt Fedler
| candidate4 = Larry Ingram
| candidate5 = Ken Finlayson
}}
A by-election was held in the federal riding of Battlefords—Lloydminster in Saskatchewan on December 11, 2017, following the resignation of Conservative MP Gerry Ritz
The seat was held for the Conservatives, with Rosemarie Falk winning the seat on an increased majority.{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Angela|title=Falk retains seat in Battlefords-Lloydminster|url=https://battlefordsnow.com/2019/10/21/falk-retains-seat-in-battlefords-lloydminster/|access-date=2020-12-23|website=battlefordsNOW|language=en}}
The by election was held on the same day as 3 others across Canada; Bonavista—Burin—Trinity in Newfoundland and Labrador, Scarborough—Agincourt in Ontario and South Surrey—White Rock in British Columbia.
Background
= Constituency =
File:Battlefords-Lloydminster.png in Saskatchewan.]]
Battlefords—Lloydminster is a large rural constituency in Central-Western Saskatchewan. It includes the communities of North Battleford, Battleford and Unity; as well as the Saskatchewan portion of Lloydminster.
= Representation =
Battlefords—Lloydminster is considered a safe seat for the Tories. Ritz had been Battlefords—Lloydminster's only Member of Parliament, holding the riding since its creation for the 1997 election, first as a Reform Party of Canada MP, then on behalf of the Canadian Alliance and since 2003 as a Conservative. He served as Agriculture Minister in Stephen Harper's cabinet from 2007 to 2015.
Campaign
On August 30, 2017, it was reported that Battlefords—Lloydminster MP Gerry Ritz had asked not to be included in the reshuffled Conservative shadow cabinet. Ritz confirmed the next day that he would resign from parliament.{{cite news|author=The Canadian Press|date=August 30, 2017|title=Conservative MP Gerry Ritz to announce his resignation, sources say|publisher=CBC News|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gerry-ritz-leaving-politics-1.4269496|accessdate=August 31, 2017}} The seat was vacated on October 2, 2017.
Former parliamentary staffer Rosemarie Falk defeated{{cite news|last=Cairns|first=John|date=November 11, 2017|title=Rosemarie Falk wins Conservative nomination in Battlefords-Lloydminster|newspaper=Battlefords News-Optimist|url=http://www.newsoptimist.ca/news/local-news/rosemarie-falk-wins-conservative-nomination-in-battlefords-lloydminster-1.23091781|accessdate=11 November 2017}} Langham Mayor John Hildebrand, small business owner Aron Klassen, Kindersley CAO Bernie Morton, and farmer Richard Nelson to win the Conservative nomination.{{cite news|title=Scramble is on to nominate by-election candidates|newspaper=Battlefords News-Optimist|url=http://www.newsoptimist.ca/news/local-news/scramble-is-on-to-nominate-by-election-candidates-1.23086204|accessdate=8 November 2017}} Meadow Lake MLA and former Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River MP Jeremy Harrison was rumoured to be a candidate for the Conservative nomination,{{cite news|last=Mandryk|first=Murray|date=September 9, 2017|title=City byelection won't tell change NDP fortunes|newspaper=Regina Leader Post|publisher=PostMedia|url=https://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnists/city-byelection-wont-tell-change-ndp-fortunesjean|accessdate=September 17, 2017|quote=With former economy minister Jeremy Harrison abandoning cabinet and now his Sask. Party leadership hopes, the speculation is that he may now resign the provincial seat he has held since 2007 to run in Gerry Ritz's now vacant Battlefords-Lloydminster seat.}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} but did not make his intentions known before the cut-off date to join the race.
Rodeo cowboy and rancher Ken Finlayson's bid for the Conservative nomination was rejected by the party over concern that he was not a "team player".{{Cite news|last=Cairns|first=John|title=Ken Finlayson's Conservative bid vetoed by party|work=Battlefords News-Optimist|url=http://www.newsoptimist.ca/news/local-news/ken-finlayson-s-conservative-bid-vetoed-by-party-1.23089004|accessdate=2017-11-13}} Finlayson ran as an independent.{{Cite news|last=Cairns|first=John|title=Ken Finlayson running as independent|work=Battlefords News-Optimist|url=http://www.newsoptimist.ca/news/local-news/ken-finlayson-running-as-independent-1.23099021|access-date=2017-11-25}}
Professional MMA fighter and athlete Matt Fedler was named the NDP candidate.{{cite news|last=Cairns|first=John|date=November 17, 2017|title=Matt Fedler running for the NDP|newspaper=Battlefords News-Optimist|url=http://www.newsoptimist.ca/news/local-news/matt-fedler-running-for-the-ndp-1.23098007|accessdate=November 18, 2017}}
Contractor and former RM of Mervin councillor Larry Ingram was acclaimed as the Liberal Party candidate.{{cite news|last=Cairns|first=John|date=November 14, 2017|title=Larry Ingram running again for the Liberals|newspaper=Battlefords News-Optimist|url=http://www.newsoptimist.ca/news/local-news/larry-ingram-running-again-for-the-liberals-1.23093059|accessdate=November 14, 2017}} Ingram previously ran for the party in Battlefords—Lloydminster in 2015.
The Speaker's warrant regarding the vacancy was received on October 3, 2017; under the Parliament of Canada Act the writ for a by-election had to be dropped no later than April 1, 2018, 180 days after the Chief Electoral Officer was officially notified of the vacancy via a warrant issued by the Speaker.{{cite web|title=Vacant Seats in the House of Commons Since the 2015 General Election|url=http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=cir/dis&document=vacant_2015&lang=e|accessdate=April 4, 2017|publisher=Elections Canada}}
Results
{{CANelec/top|CA|11 December 2017|by=yes|percent=yes|change=yes|reason=Resignation of Gerry Ritz}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Rosemarie Falk|8,965|69.56|+8.55}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Matt Fedler|1,698|13.17|-4.44}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Larry Ingram|1,345|10.44|-6.04}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Ken Finlayson|681|5.28|–}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Yvonne Potter-Pihach|200|1.55|-0.16}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|12,889|100.00||}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|||||}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|12,889|27.05|-39.46||}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|47,651}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|Conservative|+6.49}}
{{end}}
2015 result
{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2015|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Gerry Ritz|20,547|61.01|-4.94|$70,973.30}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Glenn Tait|5,930|17.61|-10.45|$6,284.73}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Larry Ingram|5,550|16.48|+13.10|$17,912.01}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Doug Anguish|1,076|3.19|n/a|–}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Mikaela Tenkink|575|1.71|-0.90|$56.97}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|33,678|99.45| |$214,778.83}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|186|0.55|–}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|33,864|66.51|–}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|50,917}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|Conservative|+2.76}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Canada[http://www.elections.ca/Scripts/vis/candidates?L=e&ED=47001&EV=41&EV_TYPE=1&PC=&PROV=SK&PROVID=47&MAPID=&QID=8&PAGEID=17&TPAGEID=&PD=&STAT_CODE_ID=-1 Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Battlefords—Lloydminster, 30 September 2015][http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand/canlim&document=index&lang=e Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815061116/http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand%2Fcanlim&document=index&lang=e |date=15 August 2015 }}}}
{{end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{By-elections to the 42nd Canadian Parliament}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2017 Battlefords-Lloydminster federal by-election}}
Category:2017 elections in Canada