Wascana

Wascana is a federal electoral district centred on the southern and central portions of Regina, Saskatchewan's provincial capital. The riding encompasses much of the city's core, including the downtown area, the Legislative Building, Wascana Centre park, the University of Regina campus, and established residential neighbourhoods. Named after Wascana Creek, which flows through the heart of Regina and forms the lake in Wascana Centre, the riding was one of the most urban constituencies in Saskatchewan.

Candidates

Ralph Goodale (Liberal) * — Goodale was one of the most experienced politicians in Canadian federal politics at the time of the 2011 election. Born in Regina and raised on a farm near Wilcox, Saskatchewan, he obtained a law degree from the University of Saskatchewan. First elected to Parliament in 1974 at the age of 24 as MP for Assiniboia, he was defeated in 1979 and moved into provincial politics, leading the Saskatchewan Liberal Party from 1981 to 1988 and winning a seat in the provincial legislature in 1986. Returning to federal politics in 1993 as MP for Regina—Wascana, Goodale served in numerous senior cabinet positions including Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Public Works, and Minister of Finance under Prime Minister Paul Martin from 2003 to 2006. By 2011, he was one of the longest-serving members of the Liberal caucus and a rare Prairie Liberal survivor.

Ian Shields (Conservative) — Shields was the Conservative challenger in Wascana, running a competitive campaign in a riding the Conservatives were eager to capture as part of their sweep of Saskatchewan. His candidacy was buoyed by the massive Conservative advantage across the province, and he came within striking distance of ending Goodale's long tenure.

Marc Spooner (NDP) — Spooner was a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina, specializing in qualitative and participatory action research. He was a well-known community activist in Regina, having spoken publicly on issues including rent control, homelessness, and affordable housing. His academic profile and community engagement gave the NDP a credible candidate in the riding.

Bill Clary (Green Party) — Clary was born and raised in Leader, Saskatchewan, and spent 25 years living in Greater Vancouver before returning to the province. He joined the Green Party out of concern for climate change and ran on the party's environmental platform.

About the Riding

Wascana was the political and administrative heart of Saskatchewan. The riding encompassed Regina's downtown core with its government offices, the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, and the city's commercial centre. Wascana Centre, one of the largest urban parks in North America, provided a green oasis in the middle of the city. The University of Regina, located in the riding's southern portion, was a major employer and contributed to the riding's relatively young and educated demographic profile.

The riding's economy was dominated by the public sector, with the provincial government, federal government agencies, and Crown corporations providing a significant share of employment. The University of Regina and its associated research activities contributed to a knowledge-based economy, while the city's retail, health care, and service sectors employed many residents. Regina's economy was also benefiting from Saskatchewan's broader resource boom, with rising provincial revenues supporting public-sector expansion and infrastructure investment.

Wascana held a unique place in Saskatchewan's political landscape as the lone Liberal holdout in a province that had become overwhelmingly Conservative. Ralph Goodale's personal popularity, deep community roots, and reputation as a competent administrator allowed him to defy the provincial trend election after election. In the 2011 election, he and Kevin Lamoureux of Winnipeg North were the only two Liberal MPs elected from the Prairie provinces, making Goodale's survival all the more remarkable given the Liberal Party's historic collapse to just 34 seats nationally.

The 2011 contest in Wascana was the closest Goodale had faced in years. The Conservative wave that swept Saskatchewan brought Ian Shields within a few percentage points of unseating the veteran Liberal, as the Conservative candidate attracted votes from residents who might otherwise have supported Goodale but were drawn to Harper's majority mandate. Goodale's victory demonstrated the strength of his personal brand and constituent service in a province where his party had virtually no other presence. His survival as a Liberal island in a Conservative sea made Wascana one of the most closely watched ridings on election night.