The New Democratic Party of Manitoba leadership election of 2017 was called as a result of the resignation of Manitoba NDP leader

Greg Selinger Gregory Francis Selinger (born February 16, 1951) is a Canadian former politician who served as the 21st premier of Manitoba from 2009 until 2016, leading an NDP government. From 1999 to 2009 he was the Minister of Finance in the government of ...

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 {{Politics of Canada In Canadian politics, a leadership convention is held by a political party when the party needs to choose a leader due to a vacancy or a challenge to the incumbent leader. Overview In Canada, leaders of a party generally rem ...

rather than a

One Member One Vote In the parliamentary politics of the United Kingdom and Canada, one member, one vote (OMOV) is a method of selecting party leaders, and determining party policy, by a direct vote of the members of a political party. Traditionally, these objectives ...

election. In the 2015 race, labour unions had been allotted 31 per cent of delegate slots.

Timeline

*April 19, 2016 — General election.

's NDP government is defeated; Selinger announces his intention to resign as party leader. *May 7, 2016 —

Flor Marcelino Flor Marcelino, (born October 5, 1951) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 2007 provincial election, for the electoral division of Wellington. In the 2011 provincial election, she ...

( Logan) is named interim leader of the NDP and Leader of the Opposition in the

Legislative Assembly of Manitoba The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (french: Assemblée législative du Manitoba) is the deliberative assembly of the Manitoba Legislature in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly at provincial gen ...

. *September 21, 2016 —

Kevin Chief Kevin Chief is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 2011 election. He represented the electoral district of Point Douglas from 2011 to 2017 as a member of the New Democratic Party caucus. In 20 ...

, 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 In Canadian politics, a leadership review is a vote held at a political party convention in which delegates decide whether to endorse the incumbent party leader or schedule a leadership convention to elect a new leader. In most parties at present, ...

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 Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749, ...

. The convention decided to have a traditional delegated leadership convention rather than have a

election. *April 10, 2017 —

Wab Kinew Wabanakwut "Wab" Kinew (; born December 31, 1981),
''

*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 in

Brandon Brandon may refer to: Names and people *Brandon (given name), a male given name *Brandon (surname), a surname with several different origins Places Australia *Brandon, a farm and 19th century homestead in Seaham, New South Wales *Brandon, Q ...

*July 20, 2017, 7:30 PM — Leadership forum at Gimli Recreation Centre in Gimli *July 24, 2017, 7 PM — Leadership forum at Vale Community Centre Gymnasium in

Thompson Thompson may refer to: People * Thompson (surname) * Thompson M. Scoon (1888–1953), New York politician Places Australia *Thompson Beach, South Australia, a locality Bulgaria * Thompson, Bulgaria, a village in Sofia Province Canada * ...

*July 26, 2017, 7 PM — Leadership forum at Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex,

University of Winnipeg The University of Winnipeg (UWinnipeg, UW) is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and kinesiology and applied health as well as gra ...

*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

Steve Ashton, aged at the time, launched his campaign on June 28, 2017. Pledges made by Ashton included: * reinvesting in community hospitals * rebuilding the Manitoba NDP in rural Manitoba * raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour in the first year of an NDP mandate * lowering university tuition fees ;Background Former MLA for

(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 Niki Christina Ashton (born September 9, 1982) is a Canadian politician. She is the New Democratic Member of Parliament for the federal electoral district of Churchill—Keewatinook Aski in Manitoba, Canada. She was first elected in the 2008 fe ...

. ;Supporters *MLAs (5):

(

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...

, 2007–2011, and Logan, 2011–2019), interim party leader (2016—2017); Ted Marcelino ( Tyndall Park, 2011–2019);

Jim Maloway Peter James Maloway (born November 10, 1952) is a Canadians, Canadian politician, who has served as a member of both the House of Commons of Canada and the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. He originally served in the Legislative Assembly of Man ...

( Elmwood, 1986–2008 and 2011–present, and MP for Elmwood—Transcona 2008–2011) Amanda Lathlin (

The Pas The Pas ( ; french: Le Pas) is a town in Manitoba, Canada, located at the confluence of the Pasquia River and the Saskatchewan River and surrounded by the unorganized Northern Region of the province. It is approximately northwest of the provinc ...

, 2015–present), Tom Lindsey (

Flin Flon Flin Flon (pop. 5,185 in 2016 census; 4,982 in Manitoba and 203 in Saskatchewan) is a mining city, located on a correction line on the border of the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with the majority of the city located within M ...

, 2016–present) *Municipal politicians: Winnipeg City Councillor Jason Schreyer

Wab Kinew

Wab Kinew, aged at the time, launched his campaign on April 10, 2017. Pledges made by Kinew included: * increasing minimum wage to $15 an hour incrementally by 2024 * targeting an NDP Caucus of 50% women,

transgender A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they seek to alleviate through ...

, and non-binary-gender people. (Kinew would name an advisory council to assist in reaching this goal.) * implementing universal

pharmacare Pharmacare is a Canadian proposal for a publicly-funded insurance program for medications, similar to Medicare for health insurance. Limited pharmacare programs exist in the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. Multiple organizers ...

* investming more in recreation and active living facilities ;Background Incumbent MLA for Fort Rouge since 2016, former broadcaster, musician, author, and professor. ;Supporters *MLAs (5):

James Allum James Allum is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in the 2011 election. He represented the electoral district of Fort Garry-Riverview as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba caucus. On ...

( Fort Garry-Riverview, 2011–2019);

Nahanni Fontaine Nahanni Fontaine (born 1971) is a Canadian provincial politician, who was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for the riding of St. Johns in the 2016 and 2019 elections. She held the seat for the NDP after incumbent MLA ...

( St. Johns, 2016–present); Bernadette Smith (

Point Douglas Point Douglas is a provincial electoral district in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is named for a part of the city that is surrounded by a bend in the Red River. The riding covers the neighbourhoods of William Whyte, Dufferin Industrial, Nort ...

, 2017–present);

Andrew Swan Andrew James Swan (born August 9, 1968) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 2004 to 2019. He was first elected in a 2004 by-election, replacing MaryAnn Mihychuk, who resigned to run for ...

(

Minto Minto may refer to: Places Antarctica *Mount Minto (Antarctica) Australia *Minto, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney ** Minto railway station * Minto County, Western Australia * Parish of Minto, New South Wales Canada * Minto City, British C ...

, 2004–2019);

Matt Wiebe Matthew Robert Rudolph "Matt" Wiebe, is a Canadian politician who is the current Minister of Justice and the Attorney General for Manitoba since October 18, 2023. Wiebe was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in a by-election on Ma ...

( Concordia, 2010–present) *MPs (1):

Daniel Blaikie Daniel Blaikie is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Elmwood—Transcona in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 Canadian federal election as a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP). He is the New Dem ...

( Elmwood-Transcona, 2015–present) *Municipal politicians (3): Lonnie Patterson,

Town Councillor; Arlene Reid,

Winnipeg School Division The Winnipeg School Division is a school division in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With 78 schools, it is the largest of six public school divisions in Winnipeg, as well as the largest and oldest school division in Manitoba. Its schools collectively te ...

Trustee; Sherri Rollins, Chair of the

Board of Trustees *Former MLAs (8):

Nancy Allan Nancy Allan (born July 25, 1952, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party governments of premiers Gary Doer and Greg Selinger. Allan was raised in MacGregor, Manitoba, ...

( St. Vital, 1999-2016);

Becky Barrett Becky Barrett (born May 1, 1942) is a retired politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1990 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party (NDP) government of Gary Doer from 1 ...

( Inkster/

, 1990-2003);

Eugene Kostyra Eugene Michael Kostyra (June 19, 1947 – May 3, 2020) was a Canadian politician in Manitoba. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1981 to 1988 and a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party government of Howard ...

( Seven Oaks, 1981-1988);

Ron Lemieux Ron Lemieux, (born August 15, 1950) is a Canadian politician, who has been an elected member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since 1999, and a former professional ice hockey player. Born in Dauphin, Manitoba, Lemieux was an ice hockey ...

( Dawson Trail/ La Verendrye, 1999-2016); Jim Rondeau (

Assiniboia Assiniboia District refers to two historical districts of Canada's Northwest Territories. The name is taken from the Assiniboine First Nation. Historical usage ''For more information on the history of the provisional districts, see also Distri ...

, 1999-2016); Tim Sale ( Fort Rouge/ Crescentwood, 1995-2007); Harry Schellenberg ( Rossmere, 1993-1995, 1999-2007);

Vic Schroeder Victor Harold Schroeder (born February 16, 1944 to a Mennonite family in Altona, Manitoba) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1979 to 1988, and a senior cabinet minister in the New De ...

(Rossmere, 1979-1988);

Muriel Smith Muriel Smith may refer to: * Muriel Smith (politician) * Muriel Smith (singer) Muriel Burrell Smith (February 23, 1923 – September 13, 1985) was an American singer. In the 1940s and 1950s, she was a star of musical theater and opera, and w ...

( Osborne, 1981-1988; and

Deputy Premier A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...

, 1981-1988) *Former MPs (3):

Bill Blaikie William Alexander Blaikie (June 19, 1951 – September 24, 2022) was a Canadian politician. He served as a member of Parliament (MP) from 1979 to 2008, representing Elmwood—Transcona and its antecedent ridings in the House of Commons of Canad ...

( Elmwood-Transcona, 1979-2008);

Pat Martin Patrick D. "Pat" Martin (born December 13, 1955, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian politician. He was a member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1997 to 2015, representing the riding of Winnipeg Centre for the New Democratic Party. Ca ...

( Winnipeg Center, 1997-2015);

Judy Wasylycia-Leis Klazina Judith Wasylycia-Leis (; born 1951) is a Canadian politician. She was a Manitoba cabinet minister in the government of Howard Pawley from 1986 to 1988, and was a member of the House of Commons of Canada from September 22, 1997, to April ...

(

Winnipeg North Winnipeg North (french: Winnipeg-Nord) is a federal electoral district in Canada that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1917. It covers the northern portion of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Geography The riding includes the ne ...

/ Winnipeg North Centre, 1997-2010; MLA St. John's, 1986-1993) *Other prominent individuals (4): Gord Delbridge, Regional Vice-President - Manitoba,

Canadian Union of Public Employees The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE; french: Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique, links=no; french: SCFP, link=, label=none) is a Canadian trade union serving the public sector – although it has in recent years organized workpl ...

; Stephen Lewis, former

United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa The United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/ AIDS in Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adja ...

(2001-2006),

Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations (french: Ambassadeur et Représentant permanent du Canada auprès des Nations unies), known unofficially as the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations (french: Ambassa ...

(1984-1988), and leader of the

Ontario NDP The Ontario New Democratic Party (french: link=no, Nouveau Parti démocratique de l'Ontario; abbr. ONDP or NDP) is a social-democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. The party currently forms the Official Opposition in Ontario following th ...

(1970-1978); Michelle McHale, withdrawn leadership contestant; Jagmeet Singh, Ontario MPP for

Bramalea—Gore—Malton Bramalea—Gore—Malton (formerly known as Brampton—Malton and Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale) was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons of Canada. In 2015, it was dissolved into ...

and 2017 federal NDP leadership candidate *Trade Unions and other organizations (4):

Manitoba Federation of Labour The Manitoba Federation of Labour is the Manitoba provincial trade union federation of the Canadian Labour Congress. It was formed in 1956 and has a membership of 95,000 people working in various private sector and public sector fields such as Ma ...

;

Amalgamated Transit Union The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) is a labor organization in the United States and Canada that represents employees in the public transit industry. Established in 1892 as the Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees of America, the un ...

Local 1505;

- Manitoba;

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is a trade union, labor union that represents approximately 775,000 workers and retirees in the electricity, electrical industry in the United States, Canada, Guam, Panama, Puerto Rico, a ...

Local 2085

Michelle McHale

Michelle McHale launched her campaign on March 10, 2017, but subsequently ended it on April 22. She would thereafter endorse

Wab Kinew Wabanakwut "Wab" Kinew (; born December 31, 1981),
''

;Background Michelle McHale is a staff representative for the

United Food and Commercial Workers The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) is a labor union representing approximately 1.3 million workers in the United States and Canada in industries including retail; meatpacking, food processing and manufacturing; hosp ...

union and social activist. She gained national prominence for organizing a pride parade in Steinbach, a conservative town in the province's

Bible Belt The Bible Belt is a region of the Southern United States in which socially conservative Protestant Christianity plays a strong role in society and politics, and church attendance across the denominations is generally higher than the nation's a ...

Declined

, MLA for Fort Garry-Riverview (2011–2019), former Minister of Justice and Attorney General (2014–2016). Endorsed Kinew. *

, MP for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski (2015–present) and

Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from 1 ...

(2008–2015). Placed seventh in the 2012 federal NDP leadership race. * Rebecca Blaikie, former president of the New Democratic Party of Canada (2011-2016) *

, MLA for

(2011–2016), Minister of Jobs and the Economy (2014–2016), Minister of Children and Youth Opportunities (2012–2014) announced in September 2016 that he will not be a candidate and then announced in December 2016 that he is resigning his seat in the legislature. *

, MLA for St. Johns (2016–present) Endorsed Kinew. * Brian Mayes,

Winnipeg City Council The Winnipeg City Council (french: Conseil municipal de Winnipeg) is the governing body of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Council is seated in the Council Building of Winnipeg City Hall.Theresa Oswald, runner-up in 2015 leadership election, former MLA for

Seine River ) , mouth_location = Le Havre/Honfleur , mouth_coordinates = , mouth_elevation = , progression = , river_system = Seine basin , basin_size = , tributaries_left = Yonne, Loing, Eure, Risle , tributaries ...

(2003–2016), Minister of Jobs and the Economy (2013–2014),

Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services. Some governments have separate ministers for mental health. Coun ...

(2006–2013), Minister of Healthy Living (2004–2006). *

, MLA for

(2004–2019), former cabinet minister under Doer and Selinger. Said in April 2017 that he was considering a run but later endorsed Kinew. *

, MLA for Concordia (2010–present); Endorsed Kinew.

Results

References

{{NDP 2017 elections in Canada 2017 in Manitoba

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...

Manitoba New Democratic Party leadership election