Scott Moe will be Saskatchewan’s next premier after winning a leadership vote to replace former premier of 10 years, Brad Wall
Saskatchewan Party members, some of whom joined specifically to choose the new premier, voted Moe the new premier-designate with 53.7% of the vote at a leadership convention in Saskatoon on Saturday.
Moe edged to the front of the race in the fourth round of voting after an early lead by Alanna Koch. The two were neck-and-neck until the last round.
Four other candidates were running to replace Wall, who announced he was retiring from politics in August last year.
Moe, who has served as an MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook since 2011, announced his bid for party leadership on Sept. 1.
Moe has served as the minister of advanced education and prior to running, minister of environment.
Moe has committed to balance the provincial budget by 2019 and vowed to bring back PST exemptions on crop, life and health insurance. During his campaign, he also announced his plan to to funnel an additional $30 million to education funding.
With respect to marijuana, Moe has said he feels the federal government has not given provinces enough time to meet the deadline set for summer 2018.
He has also stated that raising the population of the province to 1.5 million by 2030 is key goal as well.
The day Moe announced his campaign outside Saskatoon, 21 current MLAs were with him and have endorsed him. Since then, an additional MLA has endorsed Moe bringing to the total to 22.
Among those endorsing him are Bronwyn Eyre, minister of education, Donna Harpauer, minister of finance, and Dustin Duncan, who is the minister of environment and responsible for the GTH.
Moe raised $225,265 through fundraising during his campaign.