Political career
Nilson was first elected in the 1995 provincial election,which resulted in a second consecutive majority government for the New Democrats (NDP) under Roy Romanow. Nilson was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General on November 22,1995. [2] Boasting Norwegian heritage,Nilson would become known for taking some time to speak Norwegian in the legislature each year on or around Norwegian Constitution Day. [3] In 1997,Nilson was accosted at the legislature by a man who claimed he was placing Nilson under citizen's arrest;the man was detained by security and charged with assault. The incident led to security reforms at the legislature. [4]
Nilson later served as Minister of Crown Investments Corporation,Minister of Health,and Minister of Environment. He became Saskatchewan's longest-serving health minister and in that role oversaw a ban on smoking in public spaces and the public display of cigarettes,which he later cited as a highlight of his career. [5]
The NDP lost the 2007 election to the Saskatchewan Party,after which Nilson was named Opposition critic for Intergovernmental Affairs. [2]
Nilson was re-elected in the 2011 election;however,the NDP was reduced to just nine seats,and party leader Dwain Lingenfelter lost his own seat and resigned. [6] In the wake of the election,Nilson was unanimously chosen as interim leader of the party until a new leader was elected. [7] Nilson stated at the time that he would not run for the party leadership. [8] As Opposition leader,Nilson unsuccessfully opposed the expansion of seats in the legislature from 58 to 61,and more successfully urged the government against extensive labour reforms,including a proposal to allow union members to opt out of paying union dues. [9] [10] On March 9,2013,Cam Broten was elected as the new leader at the party's leadership convention. [11]
Nilson announced in December 2014 that he would not run in the next election and would be retiring from politics;he would continue to sit as an MLA until the Assembly was dissolved for the 2016 general election. [5] [12]
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