2013 Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leadership election
An election for the leadership of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party was triggered on November 7, 2011 following Dwain Lingenfelter's resignation after losing his seat in the 2011 election. The party selected its new leader on March 9, 2013, by a one-member one vote system held during a convention at TCU Place in Saskatoon.
Timeline
- June 7, 2009: Dwain Lingenfelter wins the leadership election to succeed Lorne Calvert.
- November 7, 2011: The 2011 general election is held, reducing the NDP to nine seats. Dwain Lingenfelter loses his seat, and resigns as NDP leader.
- November 19, 2011: The provincial council of the Saskatchewan NDP elects Regina Lakeview MLA John Nilson as interim leader.
- March 10, 2012: The party announces the date and rules for the 2013 leadership race, scheduling it for either February or March 2013. The party announces that it will use a one member, one vote system using a preferential ballot. The party also announces tighter rules about how memberships can be purchased.
- May 4, 2012: The party announces that the leadership convention will be held on March 9, 2013, with a general convention scheduled to be held on March 8 and 10.
- November 18, 2012: First all-candidates debate is held in Regina
- November 22, 2012: Second all-candidates debate is held in Humboldt
- November 24, 2012: Third all-candidates debate is held in Saskatoon
- November 29, 2012: Fourth all-candidates debate is held in Swift Current
- December 1, 2012: Fifth all-candidates debate is held in Melfort
- January 12, 2013: Sixth all-candidates debate will be held in Rosetown
- January 19, 2013: Seventh all-candidates debate will be held in Weyburn
- January 24, 2013: Eighth all-candidates debate will be held in North Battleford
- January 26, 2013: Deadline for new members to sign-up and be eligible to vote at the leadership convention.
- January 31, 2013: Ninth all-candidates debate will be held in Yorkton
- February 7, 2013: Tenth all-candidates debate will be held in Prince Albert
- February 9, 2013: Eleventh all-candidates debate will be held in Regina
- February 13, 2013: Twelfth all-candidates debate will be held in Moose Jaw
- February 16, 2013: Final all-candidates debate will be held in Saskatoon
- March 8–10, 2013: Convention will be held at TCU Place in Saskatoon.
- March 9, 2013: Last day of voting. Results announced at leadership convention.
Candidates
[Cam Broten]
;BackgroundMLA for Saskatoon Massey Place
;Supporters
- MLAs: Danielle Chartier ; Cathy Sproule ; Doyle Vermette
- Former MLAs: Eric Cline ; Jerome Hammersmith ; Frank Quennell ; Len Taylor
- Federal politicians: Ray Funk
- Municipal politicians:
- Labour organizations:
- Other prominent individuals: Former President of the Saskatchewan Young New Democrats Mitchell Anderson
[Ryan Meili]
Doctor, author and community health advocate.
Runner-up for the Saskatchewan NDP leadership in 2009.
;Supporters
- MLAs:
- Former MLAs: Lon Borgerson ; Robert Llewellyn Lyons ; Mark Wartman
- Federal politicians: Niki Ashton ; Libby Davies
- Municipal politicians: Charlie Clark ; Don Mitchell
- Labour organizations: United Food and Commercial Workers Saskatchewan
- Other prominent individuals: Former President of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation Steven Allen; Saskatchewan NDP Vice-President Gavin Gardiner; York University professor of Health Policy and Management Dennis Raphael; Nettie Wiebe
[Trent Wotherspoon]
MLA for Regina Rosemont
;Supporters
- MLAs: Warren McCall
- Former MLAs: Donald William Cody ; Joanne Crofford ; Darcy Furber ; Ron Harper ; Andy Iwanchuk ; Judy Junor ; Reg Knezacek ; Eldon Lautermilch ; Sandra Morin ; Lorne Scott ; John Solomon ; Violet Stanger ; Kim Trew ; Harry Van Mulligen
- Federal politicians: John Burton ; John Edmund Parry
- Municipal politicians:
- Labour organizations: Iron Workers Union Local No. 771; Saskatchewan Building Trades Council
- Other prominent individuals: Saskatchewan NDP Vice-President Joanna Sanders; Former Saskatchewan NDP President Jeff Grubb
Withdrawn candidates
[Erin Weir]
;BackgroundEconomist
Former President and Vice-President of the Saskatchewan Young New Democrats
Federal NDP candidate in Wascana during the 2004 election.
Weir withdrew from the race on February 20, 2013 and endorsed Ryan Meili.
;Supporters
- Former MLAs: Doreen Hamilton ; Anne deBlois Smart
- Federal politicians: Bill Knight ; Dick Proctor
- Other prominent individuals: Former Premier of Manitoba Howard Pawley; Former Saskatchewan NDP Vice-President Steven Lloyd; Former Saskatchewan NDP Provincial Secretaries Rod Dickinson and Larry Deters; Mel Watkins and James Laxer, co-founders of The Waffle
Declined
- Buckley Belanger, MLA for Athabasca
- Danielle Chartier, MLA for Saskatoon Riversdale
- David Forbes, MLA for Saskatoon Centre
- Warren McCall, MLA for Regina Elphinstone-Centre
- John Nilson, Current interim leader and MLA for Regina Lakeview
- Cathy Sproule, MLA for Saskatoon Nutana
- Doyle Vermette, MLA for Cumberland
Results
First ballot
- Ryan Meili 3,384
- Cam Broten 2,942
- Trent Wotherspoon 2,120
- Other 273
Second ballot
- Cam Broten 4,164
- Ryan Meili 4,120