PACI was one of hundreds of participating schools for Student Vote 2024. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Election education

Sask. schools elect NDP majority government

Oct 29, 2024 | 1:29 PM

Had Saskatchewan’s next generation of voters had a say, the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party would have won Monday’s election with a clear majority.

More than 38,000 elementary and secondary students participated in Student Vote Saskatchewan 2024.

It’s an opportunity for the students to learn about government and democracy; research the parties and candidates; and discuss the future of the province.

Among the participating schools was Prince Albert Collegiate Institute (PACI), where Grade 10 student Rosie Wilson said she enjoyed the exercise and thinks it’s good for all youth to know more about politics.

“It’s important to see how they change through the years or who sticks to their words, who doesn’t,” she said. “So [the students] kind of have an idea what can help them to choose who they want to vote for in the next election.”

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The students were also responsible for creating the election signs. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

As of 4:30 p.m. on Monday, the Saskatchewan NDP won the student vote with 39.2 per cent of the popular vote and 31 seats. The Saskatchewan Party came second with 28 seats, followed by the Saskatchewan United Party with two seats and the Saskatchewan Green Party failed to win a seat.

PACI and Carlton students voted similarly, electing local Prince Albert Carlton NDP candidate Carolyn Brost Strom. Denneil Carpenter with the Sask United Party came runner-up, followed by the Sask. Party’s Kevin Kasun and the Green Party’s Andrew Muirhead.

Over at St. Mary High School, Jared Poirier was following the provincial election and said more attention needs to be paid to education. He noted a provincial ban on cellphones in the classroom does not address the more pressing issues related to a lack of supports in the classroom.

“Especially when we don’t have enough computers and we do a lot of projects where we we do a lot of research and it was nice to have a teacher say please just use your phones because I can’t get computers for you guys for a week because it’s booked,” he said.

Noelle Lambert also attends St. Mary and noted a similar issue in her art class.

“A lot of times there’s no room in the budget to get the nicer pencil crayons and [the teacher] always has to get the cheaper paints,” Wilson explained. “For me personally, investing in education is one of the more important aspects.”

Acknowledging how and he and his classmates will have the opportunity to vote in the next provincial election, Poirier said it’s important to vote because you are shaping the world you live in.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell