1917 Saskatchewan general election
The 1917 Saskatchewan general election was the fourth provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 26, 1917, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.
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62 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan 32 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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After replacing Walter Scott as leader of the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan and premier of the province, William M. Martin led the party to its fourth consecutive victory, winning all but 8 of the 59 seats in the legislature.
The Conservative Party of Wellington Willoughby continued to lose popular support.
This was the first Saskatchewan election in which women were allowed to vote and run for office. However, none were declared elected in this vote; the first Saskatchewan woman elected an MLA was after a 1918 by-election.
The Non-Partisan League, forerunner of the Progressive Party of Saskatchewan, nominated candidates for the first time, although none were successful. Labour candidates also appeared for the first time.
The first Independent to sit in the Saskatchewan legislature was acclaimed this election.
An at-large service vote was held to elect three soldiers from October 3 to October 13, 1917. All service members were not affiliated, and were elected to represent Saskatchewan residents stationed in France, Belgium and Great Britain.
Results
| Party | Party Leader | # of candidates |
Seats | Popular Vote | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | Elected | % Change | Votes | % | % Change | ||||
| Liberal | William M. Martin | 58 | 46 | 51 | +13.3% | 106,552 | 56.68% | -0.28% | |
| Conservative | Wellington Willoughby | 53 | 7 | 7 | – | 68,243 | 36.30% | -5.68% | |
| Independent | 10 | – | 1 | +100% | 4,440 | 2.36% | +1.30% | ||
| Nonpartisan League | 7 | * | – | * | 7,267 | 3.87% | * | ||
| Labour | William Geo. Baker (default) |
2 | * | – | * | 1,474 | 0.79% | * | |
| Sub-total | 130 | 53 | 59 | – | 187,976 | 100% | |||
| Soldiers' vote (Province at large) | 14 | * | 3 | * | 13,655 | 6.77% | * | ||
| Total | 144 | 53 | 62 | +11.3% | 201,631 | 100% | |||
| Source: Elections Saskatchewan | |||||||||
Note:* Party did not nominate candidates in previous election.
Percentages
Members of the Legislative Assembly elected
For complete electoral history, see individual districts
Notes
1 Magnus Ramsland died in 1918. In the resulting by-election, he was succeeded by his widow Sarah Ramsland, the first woman ever elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.
October 13, 1917 service vote results
Like other provinces Saskatchewan held a service vote – actually two separate votes – for Saskatchewan residents in the Canadian armed services fighting during World War I. The first vote was for France and Belgium – two members were elected in a block vote; the top member represented France and the second member elected represented Belgium. Another member was also elected to represent troops in Great Britain. Three seats in the Legislature were set aside for these soldier-MLAs.
France and Belgium
| Candidate | Votes | % | elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Harris Turner | 3,938 | France | |
| Captain Frederick Bagshaw | 1,791 | Belgium | |
| Lt. Col. Alexander Ross | 978 | ||
| Private Kenneth Crawford | 798 | ||
| Sergeant William Reade | 577 | ||
| Sapper John Arthur Gibson | 379 | ||
| Major Robert Henry Smith | 365 | ||
| Sgt. Major William Harry Wilson | 233 | ||
| Lieutenant Alfred Haigh | 216 |
Great Britain
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Lt. Col. James Albert Cross | 2,698 | |
| Captain Alfred Manville | 691 | |
| Sergeant Arthur Eaton | 504 | |
| Sergeant Samuel Barraclough | 273 | |
| Captain Daniel Lochead | 214 |
