Sask. Party prepares to name new leader, premier

It is the result everyone is waiting for: who will be the next premier of Saskatchewan?

That answer will be known tonight as the Saskatchewan Party leadership convention reaches its peak.

The vote counting, tabulated through machines, will begin in the morning. But delegates have the chance to still drop off their ballots before lunchtime.

The first results are expected just after 6 p.m.

It is a preferential ballot with five candidate options, so it could take several rounds before the final result is announced.

“If nobody has 50 per cent plus one of the total votes, then the person with the fewest votes drops off the ballot and their second vote will then be counted, and that will continue” James Thorsteinson, Saskatchewan Party president, explained. “There will be a time lapse between first ballot, second ballot, third ballot and so on. Hopefully that time lapse isn’t too long but I can’t say exactly how long it will be.”

Tina Beadury-Mellor, Ken Cheveldayoff, Alanna Koch, Scott Moe and Gord Wyant are all hoping to replace Brad Wall, who announced his retirement from politics in August.

Rob Clarke’s name remains on the ballot, but he dropped out of the race one month after entering it.

We have live, special coverage from the floor of the convention at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon beginning at 5 p.m.