Batoche

Batoche is a largely rural riding in north-central Saskatchewan stretching between Prince Albert and Saskatoon, with its northern border along the North Saskatchewan River. The largest communities include Birch Hills, Wakaw, Cudworth, and Kinistino, along with smaller centres such as St. Brieux, Duck Lake, and Middle Lake. The riding had been held by Saskatchewan Party MLA Delbert Kirsch since 2003, and he was seeking a fifth consecutive term in 2020. Agriculture and small business form the foundation of the local economy, and the constituency has been a reliable stronghold for the Saskatchewan Party.

The 2020 election was held amid the COVID-19 pandemic on October 26, with rural ridings like Batoche reflecting the Saskatchewan Party's broad rural support. Premier Scott Moe's government was seeking a fourth consecutive majority, and ridings like Batoche were expected to return comfortable margins for the governing party.

Candidates

Delbert Kirsch (Saskatchewan Party) — Kirsch was first elected in 2003 and served continuously as the MLA for Batoche. A purebred cattle producer near Middle Lake for much of his life, he also worked as an auctioneer. During his legislative career, he served as Deputy Speaker of the House, Legislative Secretary to the Premier, and Deputy Government House Leader. He and his wife Valerie raised three children in the constituency.

Lon Borgerson (NDP) — Borgerson is a retired educator with thirty-six years of experience as a teacher, principal, and director of education. He had previously served as the NDP MLA for Saskatchewan Rivers from 2003 to 2007, bringing prior legislative experience to his candidacy in Batoche.

Carrie Harris (Progressive Conservative) — Harris ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Batoche, part of the party's effort to field candidates across multiple constituencies in the 2020 election.

Hamish Graham (Green Party) — Graham carried the Green Party banner in Batoche, contributing to the party's province-wide slate of candidates.

Local Issues

Agriculture remained the central concern in Batoche during the 2016-2020 term. The riding's mixed farming economy depended on stable commodity prices, reliable transportation infrastructure, and access to markets. The Saskatchewan Party government's elimination of the provincial small business tax rate and its opposition to the federal carbon tax were popular positions in rural constituencies like Batoche, where input costs directly affect farm profitability.

Rural healthcare and community services were also significant concerns. Maintaining adequate healthcare staffing in small-town hospitals and clinics was an ongoing challenge, and residents worried about the sustainability of services in communities far from major urban centres. Road maintenance on the highway network connecting the riding's scattered communities to Prince Albert and Saskatoon was another perennial issue, with residents advocating for improved infrastructure investment to support the movement of agricultural products and connect communities to essential services.