2017 Manitoba New Democratic Party leadership election

2017 New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election
DateSeptember 16, 2017
ConventionRBC Convention Centre Winnipeg
Resigning leaderGreg Selinger
Won byWab Kinew
Ballots1
Candidates2
Entrance Fee$5,000
Spending limit$75,000
New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership elections
1961 · 1968 · 1969 · 1979 · 1988 · 2009 · 2015 · 2017

The New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election of 2017 was called as a result of the resignation of Manitoba NDP leader Greg Selinger following his government's defeat in the April 19, 2016, Manitoba general election.

Rules

The rules and format of the leadership election were decided by the party in March 2017 where no major changes to the status quo were approved. The party decided in favour of holding a traditional delegated leadership convention rather than a One Member One Vote election. In the 2015 race, labour unions had been allotted 31 per cent of delegate slots.

Timeline

  • April 19, 2016 - General election. Selinger's NDP government is defeated; Selinger announces his intention to resign as party leader.
  • May 7, 2016 - Flor Marcelino (Logan) is named interim leader of the NDP and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
  • September 21, 2016 - Kevin Chief, a former senior minister in Selinger's cabinet who was widely seen as his likely successor, announces he will not be a candidate for the leadership. He subsequently announced his resignation as an MLA, effective January 9, 2017.
  • June 12, 2016 - NDP Provincial Council decides that the leadership election will be held by October 2017.
  • December 11, 2016 - NDP Provincial Council decides that the election be held in mid-September 2017 and recommends a series of rule changes such as a leadership review process, that one of two systems be used for electing the leader: The first would allow every party member to vote, with a minimum number of votes guaranteed to smaller constituencies and unions. The second would use a delegate system that would include more flexibility and representation for unions. Recommendations are to be voted upon at the annual NDP convention in March.
  • March 17–19, 2017 - NDP annual convention to meet at the Indian & Metis Friendship Centre in Winnipeg. The convention decided to have a traditional delegated leadership convention rather than have a One Member One Vote election.
  • April 10, 2017 - Wab Kinew declares his candidacy.
  • June 18, 2017, 4:30 PM - Deadline to become a new member or renew membership of the party and be able to vote for delegates to the convention, or be a delegate.
  • June 28, 2017 - Steve Ashton declares his candidacy.
  • July 15, 2017 - Nomination deadline
  • July 18, 2017, 7 PM - Leadership forum at Riverbank Discovery Centre, Brandon, Manitoba
  • July 20, 2017, 7:30 PM - Leadership forum at Gimli Recreation Centre, Gimli, Manitoba
  • July 24, 2017, 7 PM - Leadership forum at Vale Community Centre Gymnasium, Thompson, Manitoba
  • July 26, 2017, 7 PM - Leadership forum at Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex, University of Winnipeg
  • July 31, 2017 - Deadline to apply to stand to be a delegate.
  • August 8, 2017, 9:30 AM - Online voting to elect delegates begins.
  • August 21, 2017, 4:30 PM - Online voting to elect delegates ends.
  • September 16, 2017 - Leadership election to be held. Call to order at noon (Central Time), voting begins at 1:40 PM. Wab Kinew declared elected at 3:28 PM.

Candidates

Steve Ashton

Background

Steve Ashton, 67, former MLA for Thompson (1981–2016), Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation and Minister responsible for Emergency Measures (2015–2016), Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation (2009–2014), Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2006–2009), Minister of Water Stewardship (2003–2006), Minister of Labour and Immigration (2003), Minister of Conservation (2002–2003), Minister of Transportation and Government Services (2001–2002), Minister of Highways and Government Services (1999–2001). Runner-up in the 2009 leadership election and third place candidate in the 2015 leadership election. Father of federal NDP MP Niki Ashton.

Date campaign launched: June 28, 2017.
Campaign website: https://web.archive.org/web/20180203183206/https://steveashtonndp.ca/
Supporters
Other information
  • Vows to reinvest in community hospitals
  • Promises to rebuild the Manitoba NDP in rural Manitoba
  • Would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in the first year of an NDP mandate.
  • Would lower university tuition fees.

Wab Kinew

Background

Wab Kinew, 41, is the MLA for Fort Rouge (2016–present), former broadcaster, musician, author, and professor.

Date campaign launched: April 10, 2017.
Campaign website: https://www.wabkinew.ca/ Archived 2017-07-10 at the Wayback Machine
Supporters
Other information
  • Promises to increase minimum wage to $15 an hour incrementally by 2024.
  • Will target an NDP caucus of 50% women, transgender, and non-binary-gender people. Has named an advisory council to assist in reaching this goal.
  • Would implement universal pharmacare.
  • Vows to invest more in recreation and active living facilities.

Withdrawn

Michelle McHale

Background

Michelle McHale, is a staff representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers union and social activist. She gained national prominence for organizing a pride parade in Steinbach, Manitoba, a conservative town in the province's Bible Belt.

Date campaign launched: March 10, 2017
Date campaign ended: April 22, 2017
Subsequently endorsed: Wab Kinew

Declined

Results

Candidate Votes %
Wab Kinew 728 74.3
Steve Ashton 253 25.7
Total Valid Votes 981 100.00

This page was last updated at 2023-08-28 12:11 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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