Prince Albert Northcote

Prince Albert Northcote covers the eastern and more urban portions of Prince Albert. The riding had been one of the most competitive in the province, changing partisan hands at each general election since 2011. In 2016, NDP candidate Nicole Rancourt defeated Saskatchewan Party incumbent Victoria Jurgens by just 261 votes. With such narrow margins, the 2020 rematch between the NDP and the Saskatchewan Party was expected to be one of the closest races in the province.

The contest lived up to expectations. Saskatchewan Party challenger Alana Ross ultimately won by just 195 votes, flipping the seat back after the NDP held it for one term. The result was so close that mail-in ballots, expanded due to the COVID-19 pandemic, played a decisive role in confirming the outcome.

Candidates

Alana Ross (Saskatchewan Party) — Ross was born and raised in the Prince Albert area and worked in the healthcare sector for over 30 years. She served as a front-line nurse, a unit union representative, a member of hospital management teams, and a post-secondary nursing instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alberta, which she completed while raising her family and working full-time. She was an active volunteer and board member with organizations including the Prince Albert Exhibition Board and the PA Rural School Division Board of Education.

Nicole Rancourt (NDP) — Rancourt is a registered social worker who served as the incumbent MLA for Prince Albert Northcote after winning in 2016. She held a Business Administration Certificate from Saskatchewan Polytechnic and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Regina. Before entering politics, she worked at Prince Albert Mental Health Outpatient and served as Acting Chief of Mental Health Services at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary. She received the Rebel With A Cause award from the Elizabeth Fry Society in 2008 for her work with incarcerated women.

Jaret Nikolaisen (Progressive Conservative) — Nikolaisen ran for the Progressive Conservative Party in Prince Albert Northcote as part of the party's province-wide slate of candidates.

Sarah Kraynick (Green Party) — Kraynick carried the Green Party banner in Prince Albert Northcote, receiving 2 percent of the vote.

Local Issues

The same healthcare concerns that shaped the neighbouring Prince Albert Carlton race were equally prominent in Northcote. Victoria Hospital's aging infrastructure and the government's $300 million expansion announcement were central to the campaign, with both major parties competing to claim credit for the city's healthcare future. The NDP pointed to years of funding constraints that had left the hospital struggling, while the Saskatchewan Party highlighted its commitment to the major capital project.

The methamphetamine crisis and rising crime rates were particularly acute issues in Prince Albert Northcote, which includes some of the city's more vulnerable neighbourhoods. Police reported a dramatic increase in meth-related incidents, and community members called for greater investment in addictions treatment and supportive housing. Mental health services were a key concern, given that the riding's incumbent, Rancourt, had professional experience in exactly this area.

Education funding was also a significant issue. Saskatchewan had fallen from the highest per-student spending in Canada in 2015-2016 to among the lowest by the end of the decade, a decline that was felt in Prince Albert classrooms through larger class sizes and reduced support services. The NDP campaigned on a $125 million safer schools plan to cut class sizes and hire more teachers, while the Saskatchewan Party pointed to its record of maintaining overall education spending.