NDP Leader Ryan Meili held a media conference Wednesday to say he had won re-election in Saskatoon Meewasin. Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

By CKOM News

Meili claims victory in Saskatoon Meewasin before Elections Saskatchewan confirms it

Oct 29, 2020 | 9:44 AM

Ryan Meili may have jumped the gun Wednesday.

In front of a couple of dozen supporters — including NDP candidates from Saskatoon — the NDP leader claimed he had won his Saskatoon Meewasin seat in the provincial election.

Meili was trailing Saskatchewan Party candidate Rylund Hunter by 83 votes after ballots were counted Monday night. Elections Saskatchewan started counting mail-in votes Wednesday.

Trouble is, Elections Saskatchewan has yet to make the outcome official.

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Meili also said his party had won two other hotly contested seats, with Matt Love prevailing in Saskatoon Eastview and Jennifer Bowes winning in Saskatoon University.

Both were leading their respective races after Monday’s ballots were counted, but Elections Saskatchewan reiterated there are more votes to be counted.

“Confirmed as winning today, Jen Bowes and Matt Love. So excited to have them on our team, and I’m so honoured to be able to represent — to continue to represent — the people of Saskatoon Meewasin and again, thank you so much …,” Meili said during his media conference Wednesday.

“I want to thank Rylund Hunter; he worked really hard. (It was) a hard-fought campaign in Saskatoon Meewasin. Well done (by Hunter).”

The Saskatchewan NDP told 650 CKOM the wins had been confirmed by scrutineers allowed to oversee the count.

But Elections Saskatchewan said party representatives who are allowed to oversee the count have to sign an oath of secrecy. Also, the organization said the Saskatoon Meewasin count would not be completed Wednesday.

As of 6 p.m., the Elections Saskatchewan website had Meili ahead of Hunter by 209 votes. But only 1,065 of the 1,656 mail-in ballots issued in the riding had been counted — and there are other ballots outstanding as well.

Elections Saskatchewan’s running tally of seats in the legislature had changed to reflect Meili had taken the lead. The Saskatchewan Party was elected or leading in 49 constituencies, with the NDP elected or leading in 12 ridings.

In a written statement, the Sask. Party said it was waiting to hear the definitive word from Elections Saskatchewan.

“While the Saskatchewan Party also has scrutineers to observe the counting of ballots, we respect Elections Saskatchewan’s role in reporting and verifying polling results,” Sask. Party executive director Patrick Bundrock said in the statement.

“Elections Saskatchewan has now released results in tight races including Prince Albert Northcote and Regina Coronation Park confirming the respective Saskatchewan Party candidates as the successful candidates.”

The Sask. Party duo of Alana Ross and Mark Docherty held narrow leads in those respective ridings after ballots were counted Monday. Their victories were confirmed Wednesday.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Brady Lang