NDP’S Chartier decides not to seek re-election in Saskatoon Riversdale

SASKATOON Veteran Saskatoon NDP MLA Danielle Chartier has decided family comes first.

Chartier, who was first elected in a 2009 byelection, announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday that she will not seek re-election in this year’s provincial vote.

Chartier succeeded former NDP premier Lorne Calvert to represent the Saskatoon Riversdale riding and won re-election in 2011 and 2016. Calvert had taken over from another former NDP premier, Roy Romanow, as MLA for the riding, which has been an NDP stronghold.

The single mother of two daughters said the recent death of her father helped impress upon her the importance of family.

“Given the demands of this role, and because of the juncture I’m at in my personal and family life, I have determined staying closer to home is the best course of action for my family,” Chartier wrote in a Facebook post.

She is the fourth veteran NDP MLA to announce she won’t run again, and the third representing a Saskatoon constituency.

David Forbes (Saskatoon Centre), Cathy Sproule (Saskatoon Nutana) and Warren Mccall (Regina Elphinstone-centre) have also bowed out of the next election.

Forbes and Mccall were elected in 2001 and Sproule was elected in 2011.

Chartier said in the post that she spent nearly four “difficult years” helping to take care of her father, who suffered from dementia.

Chartier’s surprise announcement comes as Premier Scott Moe continues to muse about the possibility of an early election.

The province’s set election law, which was enacted by Moe’s Saskatchewan Party government, has scheduled the next election for Oct. 26. However, Moe has hinted at the possibility of a spring election.

NDP Leader Ryan Meili told reporters in Regina that Chartier made the decision this week.

“We’re sad to see Danielle go,” he said.

NDP MLA Carla Beck called Chartier a “trailblazer,” noting her youngest daughter was a year old when she was first elected.