2011 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election


The British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership convention of 2011 was prompted by Carole James's announcement on December 6, 2010 that she would be resigning as leader of the party. The convention was held on April 17, 2011 at the Vancouver Convention Centre with voting occurring by telephone and via internet on that date and through advance voting.

Candidates

[Adrian Dix]

MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway, former Chief of Staff to Premier Glen Clark

[Mike Farnworth]

MLA for Port Coquitlam, former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Minister of Employment and Investment and Minister Responsible for Housing, Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors, and Minister Social Development and Economic Security

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MLA for Malahat-Juan de Fuca

[Dana Larsen]

Larsen was leader of the BC Marijuana Party from 2001 to 2003 when he resigned to join the NDP. In 2008 he was a federal NDP candidate for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country but resigned after a video surfaced of him driving after using marijuana and hallucinogenic drugs.
Larsen's eligibility to run for the party leadership is at issue with party president Moe Sihota stating that Larsen's party membership has lapsed. Larsen responded by saying there was a "clerical error" as his donation to the party was processed but his membership was not. Sihota also says that even if Larsen renews his membership he may be ineligible due to the controversy surrounding his federal candidacy in 2008. The party's rules committee will set eligibility requirements in January; Sihota says that as a result Larsen "may be ultimately ineligible" regardless of his party membership status.

Potential/withdrawn candidates

Potential candidates that declined to run
Withdrawn candidates

[Harry Lali]

MLA for Fraser-Nicola, former Minister of Transportation

[Nicholas Simons]

MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast

Timeline