Canada

Sask. Party crushes NDP, Liberals, in by-election

Former lead pilot for the Snowbirds, Yogi Huyghebaert, flew to an easy victory for the Saskatchewan party in Monday's Wood River by-election.

Huyghebaert captured a commanding 66.9 per cent of the popular vote, compared to 15.6 per cent for the NDP, and 11.1 per cent for the Liberals.

It was a stark contrast to the general election last fall, when Huyghebaert was first declared the victor by 11 votes. He then lost by a single vote after a re-count.

The by-election was called when Liberal Glen McPherson, refused to go through any more court battles to hang on to the seat. McPherson, who had left the NDP to become a Liberal, also objected to the formation of the NDP-Liberal coalition government.

The by-election was the first test for the coalition.