NDP had a 'good run in government'

A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.

During his concession speech, Calvert told supporters in Saskatoon, "Friends, tonight we leave government, but we leave with heads held high."

"I would not have changed a great deal about the campaign itself. Obviously we've come to a point after 16 years of governing where that mood for change is very real," Calvert told reporters Wednesday night. "We've had a good run in government."

The NDP won 21 seats, compared to 30 in 2003. The party's popular vote fell about seven per cent, a signal from voters that they're looking for change in the booming province.

The New Democratshad a tough time holding onto constituencies where incumbents did not run for re-election.

Two cabinet ministers defeated

Yorkton, where deputy premier Clay Serby decided not to run again because he's undergoing cancer treatment, fell to the Saskatchewan Party's Greg Ottenbreit.

Regina South, vacated by Andrew Thomson, who was headed for work in the private sector, was a close race. Ultimately, the Saskatchewan Party's Bill Hutchison squeaked ahead of the NDP's Yens Pedersen by three per cent.

Regina Wascana Plains and Prince Alberta Carlton were bothtaken overby the Saskatchewan Party, and two cabinet ministerswere defeated:Lon Borgerson in Saskatchewan Rivers and Graham Addley in Saskatoon Sutherland.

Calvert acknowledged from the beginning of the campaign that it would be a tough one, and a public opinion poll found the NDP trailing in support behind the Saskatchewan Party.

NDP campaigned on drug plan

During its campaign, the NDP tried to sell a universal drug plan that capped prescriptions at $15, saying it would cost the provincial treasury about $150 million per year.

The New Democrats also portrayed their opponents as wolves in sheep's clothing in a series of ads, warning that the Saskatchewan Party was hiding plans to sell Crown corporations and to privatize health care.

In the last three years, Saskatchewan's oil and gas boom allowed the governing NDP to cut the PST to five per cent from seven and to slash corporate taxes. The province increased social spending, froze tuition and put more money into highways and cities.

The NDP tried to convince voters the status quo was the best way to manage the province's prosperity, but the electorate ultimately disagreed.