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Date | September 16, 2017 |
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Convention | RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg |
Resigning leader | Greg Selinger |
Won by | Wab Kinew |
Ballots | 1 |
Candidates | 2 |
Entrance fee | $5,000 |
Spending limit | $75,000 |
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.
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. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Steve Ashton, [16] aged 61 at the time, launched his campaign on June 28, 2017. [12]
Pledges made by Ashton included:
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. [17] [12] Father of federal NDP MP Niki Ashton.
Wab Kinew, [19] aged 35 at the time, launched his campaign on April 10, 2017. [10] [20]
Pledges made by Kinew included:
Incumbent MLA for Fort Rouge since 2016, former broadcaster, musician, author, and professor.
Michelle McHale launched her campaign on March 10, 2017, [33] but subsequently ended it on April 22. [34] She would thereafter endorse Wab Kinew. [27]
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, a conservative town in the province's Bible Belt. [35]
Candidate | Votes | % |
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Wab Kinew | 728 | 74.3 |
Steve Ashton | 253 | 25.7 |
Total Valid Votes | 981 | 100.00 |