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Feist congratulates Cox on win

The NDP challenge in the Battlefords fizzled right out when the returns came in on election night.
rob feist
Rob Feist congratulated Herb Cox on his election win in the Battlefords at the Saskatchewan Party campaign office on 100th Street. Photo by John Cairns

The NDP challenge in the Battlefords fizzled right out when the returns came in on election night.

Candidate Rob Feist was buried by over 2,000 votes, a fate he shared with NDP candidates all over the province of Saskatchewan as his party ended up with 10 seats to the Saskatchewan Party’s 51. Feist received 2,233 votes compared to 4,248 votes for Herb Cox.

About an hour after the polls closed and with the election results known, Feist went over to Cox’s campaign office on 100th Street to congratulate him on his win and on what was a clean campaign in the riding.

“We wanted to come in person and shake hands. It’s been a very respectful campaign, I think, on both sides, on all sides, really,” said Feist.

“While we disagreed on issues, and we disagreed on principles, everyone has been extremely respectful and I think that contributed to a good dialogue throughout the campaign.”

It was a disappointing, but not unexpected, outcome for the North Battleford lawyer who had gone into this election trying to overturn a more than 1,000-vote margin against the sitting environment minister.

Despite the obstacles, Feist and his team ran an active campaign throughout the riding, knocking on doors across the Battlefords to get the message out.   

Cox had pointed to the economy as a key reason the Saskatchewan Party won in the Battlefords. Feist had a similar view.

“The general strength of the economy over the past number of years has been the key issue in the campaign,” said Feist. “I think it was hard for us to present a different vision this time around.”

There wasn’t much to cheer about from a provincial perspective for the NDP, but Feist did point to a stronger and somewhat larger caucus with some new faces elected.

“Over the next four years we will do the work of holding the government to account,” said Feist.

“Those New Democratic MLAs who are going back to the legislature and those new MLAs are very strong, a little bit stronger in numbers, and we’re hopeful that as time progresses we’ll see a continued resurgence of the New Democratic Party in the province.”

Feist also voiced his support for Cam Broten, NDP leader, who went on to lose his seat in Saskatoon Westview at the end of the night.

“Cam is an excellent leader,” said Feist. “Cam has just been the type of leader our party has needed. I hope that whatever decisions he makes in his future he stays a strong contributor to the party.”