Cut Knife—Turtleford

Cut Knife—Turtleford spans the agricultural heartland west of the Battlefords, taking in the towns of Cut Knife, Maidstone, Lashburn, Turtleford, and Unity along with the surrounding grain and cattle country. The riding's previous MLA, Saskatchewan Party member Ryan Domotor, was removed from caucus in November 2023 after being charged with communicating to obtain sexual services in Regina. Although the charge was later stayed following his completion of an intervention program, Domotor did not seek re-election, leaving the seat open for 2024. The Saskatchewan Party turned to James Thorsteinson, the party's former provincial president and a well-connected figure within conservative circles, to hold the constituency.

Candidates

James Thorsteinson (Saskatchewan Party) — A third-generation cattle rancher based north of Maidstone, Thorsteinson has spent most of his career in the agricultural sector with additional contract work in the oilfield. He served as president of the Saskatchewan Party from 2014 to 2023, giving him deep organizational ties throughout the province. A longtime 4-H volunteer, he also served on the board of the Libbie Young Center in Lloydminster, which provides housing and programming for people struggling with mental health challenges. He was acclaimed as the party's nominee in March 2024.

Clayton Poole (NDP) — A Ruddell resident, Poole grew up farming near Naicam, raising grain, chickens, cattle, and honey. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and has worked variously as a paramedic, heavy equipment operator, oilfield driller, and railcar repair site lead at Procor. He previously served on the Ruddell village council. Poole said he entered the race after hearing from residents about difficulty paying bills, putting food on the table, and accessing healthcare.

Steve Gessner (Saskatchewan United Party) — Raised on a farm between the Battlefords and Wilkie, Gessner spent 25 years as a long-haul truck driver, giving him firsthand experience with infrastructure and transportation issues across North America. He and his wife Kathy have been married for nearly 40 years and live in the constituency.

Holly Ennis (Green Party) received a small share of the vote.

Local Issues

Affordability and the cost of living were at the forefront for voters in Cut Knife—Turtleford. Farming operations faced elevated input costs for fuel, fertilizer, and equipment, while oilfield workers contended with cyclical uncertainty in the energy sector. Families in the riding's small towns reported that grocery prices and household expenses had risen sharply over the inter-election term, and all three major-party candidates acknowledged the strain.

Rural healthcare access featured heavily in the campaign. Residents in the smaller communities within the riding expressed concern about emergency room reliability, physician recruitment, and the availability of mental health services. Thorsteinson's involvement with the Libbie Young Center reflected a broader community awareness that mental health supports in western Saskatchewan remained inadequate relative to demand.

The controversy surrounding the previous MLA's removal from caucus lingered as a backdrop to the election. While Domotor's legal matter was resolved, the episode raised questions about representation and trust. Thorsteinson positioned himself as a fresh start with deep party credentials, while Poole and Gessner argued that the riding needed a representative more attuned to grassroots concerns than to party hierarchy. Agriculture and oilfield support, including pipeline development and market access, completed the local policy conversation in a constituency where the two industries are the twin pillars of the economy.