The leader of the Saskatchewan United Party, Jon Hromek, has stepped down after the party failed to win any seats in the recent provincial election.
The party had one sitting MLA when the election was called on Oct. 1. However, the election didn’t return any party members to the legislature.
Hromek made the announcement he was stepping down in a Dec. 31 letter, which The Epoch Times has viewed.
He said he didn’t make the decision lightly.
“I have spent countless hours listening to you—at town halls, on doorsteps, and in the streets. Your voices, your stories, and your hopes for our province have inspired me deeply,” Hromek wrote.
He said it had been an honour to fight for a better province.
“We faced a challenging election, and while we did not win any seats, placing third in the province overall reflects a growing desire for change among the people of Saskatchewan.”
The United Party, which garnered 18,023 votes in the Oct. 28 election, came in third behind the Official Opposition NDP, while the Saskatchewan Party won its fifth-straight majority government.
The party had campaigned on cutting the provincial sales tax, ending the provincial gasoline tax, more private sector involvement in health care, and allowing parents to opt children out of sexual education in schools. The party was official registered in November 2022.
In his letter, Hromek said Saskatchewan is at a crossroads.
“With new leadership in the United States and chaos in Ottawa, we must recognize the importance of strong leadership here at home,” he said. “The decisions made in the coming years will shape not only our province but our place in the nation.”
Hromek said the province needs leadership that prioritizes the needs of citizens and those committed to fostering growth, prosperity, and resilience.
”While I may be stepping down as your leader, I want to emphasize that the future of this province is in the hands of the people. It is you who will carry the torch for change. It is your passion, your dedication, and your vision that will guide Saskatchewan forward.”
He also said he was grateful for the opportunity to have been the leader of the party.
President of the United Party, Dwight Bunyan, said that he and the executive council thanked Hromek for his efforts in building the party.
“His leadership and vision will have a lasting impact on this party and the province,” he wrote in an email.
Bunyan also said there would be further news from the party in the coming weeks.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
