The Saskatchewan Party has won a fifth majority government – no small feat – and will claim 35 of 61 seats in the legislature, subject to a final ballot count. The provincial party created by conservatives and Liberals a quarter-century ago, to present a united front to the then-more-dominant NDP, is moving into the realm of political dynasty.

But you wouldn‘t know it from Leader Scott Moe’s demeanour in the early hours of electoral triumph this week, where he touched on the historic nature of the win but spent more time acknowledging the sound spanking his party got from voters.

“I’ve heard the message that was delivered here,” he said early Tuesday morning. “We must do better. And we most certainly will.”

His constant refrain of “we need to do better” might be atypical for a victory speech, but is actually pitch perfect for the times. Even with the win, the governing party of 17 years can’t ignore the voters who’ve left them. The party’s majority is diminished in size, as the opposition Saskatchewan NDP have nearly doubled their caucus to 26. Several prominent cabinet ministers were given the boot. The province is cleaved along rural and........

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