Saskatchewan might be the breadbasket of Canada, but agricultural issues have taken a low profile in the election campaign so far.
Erhard Poggemiller, Liberal candidate in the riding of Kindersley, is among those who thought agriculture would get a lot of attention in the rural district, but he quickly learned otherwise.
"I haven't heard a lot about agriculture from the other candidates. I'm surprised at that," he said.
However, some observers say Poggemiller shouldn't be surprised.
They point to the fact that agriculture has been declining in importance as an electoral issue for several decades now.
"As the population is centred more and more in the larger centres, agriculture is stepping to the back," said Bob Bjornerud, a Saskatchewan Party candidate and a farmer.
"They are not realizing, I don't think, the number of jobs that we create out there through agriculture."
NDP Leader Lorne Calvert has said agriculture is an important election issue, but University of Saskatchewan political scientist John Courtney said that's not reflected in the attention it's getting in this election.
Agriculture has been declining in importance for several decades now, Courtney said. Sixty years ago, two-thirds of the province's gross domestic product was farm-related, while today, it's down to eight per cent.
The decline in the importance of agriculture has mirrored a decline in the rural population — most of the province's votes are now in the cities.
Courtney also said the outcome of the rural vote is a foregone conclusion.
"The Sask. Party has a stranglehold on rural Saskatchewan. The NDP recognizes that, so there's really no incentive for the Sask. Party to try to develop that base further," he said. "Lost in the shuffle has been the voice of agriculture and of rural Saskatchewan."
Saskatchewan Votes 2007 »
- Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
- Only 10 years into its existence as a political force, the Saskatchewan Party will form a majority government and its leader Brad Wall will be the new premier.
- NDP had a 'good run in government'
- A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.
- Liberals fail again to elect single MLA
- The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
- Shift in urban vote handed seats to Sask. Party
- The seeds of victory were sown in Regina and Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan Party picked up five seats — but there were gains in other urban areas, too, that helped seal the election win.
- NDP holds on in Regina, but loses 3 seats
- Fortress Regina continued to stand for the NDP when the dust of Wednesday's election had settled, though its foundation was shaken by a trio of Saskatchewan Party wins.
Constituency Profiles
More Saskatchewan Votes Headlines »
- Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
- Only 10 years into its existence as a political force, the Saskatchewan Party will form a majority government and its leader Brad Wall will be the new premier.
- NDP had a 'good run in government'
- A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.
- Liberals fail again to elect single MLA
- The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
- Shift in urban vote handed seats to Sask. Party
- The seeds of victory were sown in Regina and Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan Party picked up five seats — but there were gains in other urban areas, too, that helped seal the election win.
- NDP holds on in Regina, but loses 3 seats
- Fortress Regina continued to stand for the NDP when the dust of Wednesday's election had settled, though its foundation was shaken by a trio of Saskatchewan Party wins.
