Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young has been acclaimed the Sask Party candidate for the constituency in the upcoming 2024 fall general election. Meridian Source File Photo
It’s been a whirlwind week in the regional Saskatchewan Party scene with evolving storylines for three well-known political personalities.
Cut Knife-Turtleford MLA Ryan Domotor was booted from the Sask Party caucus by Premier Scott Moe last Thursday after he was charged with soliciting sexual services in Regina.
Moe also stripped Domotor of all his government appointments after his office confirmed the criminal charges.
Domotor will make his first appearance in court on Jan. 4 and as things stand today he still represents the constituency, but as an independent.
Meanwhile, Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young has been acclaimed as the Sask Party candidate for the Lloydminster constituency in the 2024 provincial general election.
Her only rival, James Thorsteinson has withdrawn his name as a candidate and announced he will be seeking the Sask Party nomination in the Cut Knife-Turtleford constituency.
“Cut Knife-Turtleford is a good fit for me. I am familiar with many in the constituency already and look forward to meeting more people. The main economic drivers in this area are agriculture and the energy sector, two fields I am very familiar with,” said Thorsteinson on Wednesday.
Thorsteinson said he also thanked everyone who supported his campaign in Lloydminster and congratulated Young on being acclaimed in Lloyd.
“I look forward to working with Colleen on behalf of the residents of the region. There are many issues that affect residents of both constituencies and having two voices on their behalf is beneficial to the area,” said Thorsteinson.
Young, meanwhile, says the party still has to go ahead with the official nomination meeting date on Nov. 30 in Paradise Hill, but there will be no need for ballots and voting by party members.
“There will be a brief meeting at 8:30 p.m. (Sask. time) where the notice of the meeting will be read, the Sask Party’s executive director will acclaim me as the winning candidate and then I will have the opportunity to express my words of thanks,” said Young.
“I will continue listening, advocating and working hard on behalf of the constituents which has always been my priority since being elected in 2014.”
The Sask Party has removed the announcement of Domotor’s 2024 candidacy.
Domotor was first elected as an MLA in 2020 and acclaimed in July as the Sask Party’s candidate in the 2024 general election.
He previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Human Services and the Economy Committee. He also previously served on the cabinet Committee on the Economy according to his official government biography.
He was formerly employed as the chief administrative officer for the RM of Mervin from 1994 to 2020 and served on the Turtleford town council for 12 years.
Domotor and his wife Noella live in Turtleford, where they have resided for the past 29 years. They have two sons, Logan and Lyndon.
