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The 2011 Provincial Election campaign is now officially underway.

Premier Brad Wall announced this evening that he met with Lieutenant-Governor Gordon Barnhart today to formally dissolve the legislature, and issue the writ of election.



We already know that we will go to the polls on November 7th. Wall set that date shortly after winning the 2007 election.

The Saskatchewan Party government holds 38 seats in the legislature and the opposition New Democrats, with leader Dwain Lingenfelter, have the remaining 20. Wall will run again in Swift Current while Lingenfelter is running in Regina-Douglas Park. Lingenfelter is from Shaunavon and this is the first election battle between the two southwest products.

The Liberals, led by Ryan Bater running in the Battlefords, haven't won a seat since 1998. The Progressive Conservatives are looking to win their first seat since 1995. That party is led by Rick Swenson, who will run in Moose Jaw North. The Green Party of Saskatchewan is led by new leader Victor Lau, who will run against Lingenfelter in Regina-Douglas Park.

The governing Saskatchewan Party currently represents all five ridings in our region. Incumbents Wayne Elhard in Cypress Hills, Yogi Huyghebaert in Wood River, Lyle Stewart in Thunder Creek and Jim Reiter in Rosetown-Elrose are all running for re-election.

In Swift Current, Premier Wall faces a challenge from the NDP's Aaron Ens and the Green Party's Amanda Huxted. Randy Gaudry of the NDP opposes Huyghebaert and New Democrat Ryan McDonald will take on Stewart. Diane Rhodes of the Green Party and Tom Howe are trying to unseat Reiter. Elhard's opponents are Alex Mortenson of the NDP and Bill Caton for the Green Party.

Golden West Radio News will profile candidates in all five local ridings over the next four weeks. We will have live coverage of the election on November 7th on all local stations including a two hour special on CKSW and CJSN.