Tight race in upcoming Saskatoon byelection

A survey of voters in the Saskatoon Meewasin riding shows a tight race in the upcoming byelection.

A Mainstreet/Postmedia poll released Monday shows 37 per cent of people surveyed would vote for the NDP, while 35 per cent would vote SaskatchewanParty. There were 22 per cent of people who declared they were undecided.

The Green Party and Liberal Party each received three per cent.

The seat was previously held by Sask. Party MLA Roger Parent, who died in November just one day after the government announced he had been diagnosed with cancer. The 63-year-old had been an MLA since 2011.

• Saskatoon MLA Roger Parent, 63, dies in hospital

Dr. Ryan Meili was announced as the candidate for the New Democratic Partyin the upcoming byelection. Meili previously ran for leadership of the party in 2009 and 2013.

"Since the last election, the Sask Party has attacked the most vulnerable and cut funding and staff for our schools and our hospitals," Meili said in a news release.

Meanwhile, Liberal leader Darrin Lamoureux will run for the seat for his party.

The Sask.Party has yet to name who will be running in the riding. Brent Penner, Roxanne Kaminski and Marv Friesen have put their names forward. A nomination race will be held Jan. 30.

The Green Party has not named a candidate either.

• Ryan Meili pursuing NDP nomination for Saskatoon Meewasin

A date for the byelection has not yet been announced. According to Elections Saskatchewan, by law, it must be held before May 29.

Mainstreet Research reports 603 Saskatoon Meewasin electors were surveyed on Jan. 20 and 21. A random sample of this size would yield a margin of errorof +/- 3.97per cent, 19 times out of 20.