Cumberland

Cumberland is one of Saskatchewan's two northern ridings, encompassing the communities of La Ronge, Air Ronge, Creighton, Denare Beach, and surrounding First Nations. The riding has been an NDP stronghold for generations, held by the party or its predecessor, the CCF, in every election since 1952. Doyle Vermette, first elected in a 2008 by-election, was seeking his fourth consecutive election victory. Of Metis ancestry, Vermette was born in Prince Albert and made La Ronge his permanent home in 1990, building a reputation as a tireless advocate for northern communities on issues ranging from education to mental health.

The 2020 election on October 26 took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, which heightened concerns about the vulnerability of remote northern communities with limited healthcare infrastructure. Voter turnout in Cumberland was forty per cent, well below the provincial average, reflecting the logistical challenges of voting across a vast northern constituency.

Candidates

Doyle Vermette (NDP) — Before entering politics, Vermette worked in his family's forestry company and in the service industry. He built an extensive record of community involvement, serving as chair of the Northern Lights School Division, chair of the Gabriel Dumont Institute, and as an alderman for Air Ronge. In the legislature, he served as Opposition Whip and as critic for Mental Health and Addictions, championing The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act. The bill had been voted down twice by the Saskatchewan Party majority before the 2020 election, but Vermette continued to press for its passage.

Darren Deschambeault (Saskatchewan Party) — Deschambeault was born and raised in Cumberland House, is of Indigenous heritage, and speaks fluent Cree. He works as a communications consultant for an oil and gas company. He was acclaimed as the Saskatchewan Party candidate for Cumberland.

Aaron Oochoo (Green Party) — Oochoo ran for the Green Party in Cumberland, receiving a small share of the vote in the riding.

Local Issues

The suicide crisis in northern Saskatchewan was the most pressing issue in Cumberland during the 2016-2020 term. The suicide rate in northwestern Saskatchewan stood at 29.7 per 100,000 people, nearly three times the national average. Vermette introduced a private member's bill calling for the Saskatchewan Health Authority to develop a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy, but the Saskatchewan Party majority voted it down 43-13 in June 2020. In response, Tristen Durocher and Christopher Merasty undertook a 635-kilometre, 28-day walk from Air Ronge to the legislature grounds in Regina to raise awareness. The government's handling of the issue was widely seen as a political failure in the north and fuelled NDP support in both Cumberland and Athabasca.

Healthcare access more broadly remained a critical concern. Northern communities lacked adequate mental health services, and efforts to address the crisis were fragmented across multiple agencies and organizations. The high cost of living, inadequate housing on reserves and in northern settlements, and limited economic opportunities compounded the challenges facing Cumberland's residents. The COVID-19 pandemic added another layer of vulnerability, as remote communities with minimal healthcare capacity faced the prospect of outbreaks with few resources to respond.