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]
Timeline
April 19, 2016 — General election. Greg Selinger's NDP government is defeated; Selinger announces his intention to resign as party leader.[5]
September 21, 2016 — Kevin Chief, 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.[6][7]
June 12, 2016 — NDP Provincial Council decides that the leadership election will be held by October 2017.[2]
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 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.[8]
March 17–19, 2017 — NDP annual convention to meet at the Indian & Metis Friendship Centre in Winnipeg. The convention decided to have a traditional delegated leadership convention rather than have a One Member One Vote election.[9]
April 10, 2017 — Wab Kinew declares his candidacy.[10]
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.[11]
July 18, 2017, 7 PM — Leadership forum at Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon[11]
July 20, 2017, 7:30 PM — Leadership forum at Gimli Recreation Centre in Gimli[11]
July 24, 2017, 7 PM — Leadership forum at Vale Community Centre Gymnasium in Thompson[11]
July 26, 2017, 7 PM — Leadership forum at Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex, University of Winnipeg[11]
July 31, 2017 — Deadline to apply to stand to be a delegate.[11]
August 8, 2017, 9:30 AM — Online voting to elect delegates begins.[14]
August 21, 2017, 4:30 PM — Online voting to elect delegates ends.[14]
September 16, 2017 — Leadership election to be held.[13] Call to order at noon (Central Time), voting begins at 1:40 PM.[15] Wab Kinew declared elected at 3:28 PM.
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:
increasing minimum wage to $15 an hour incrementally by 2024[21]
targeting an NDP Caucus of 50% women, transgender, and non-binary-gender people. (Kinew would name an advisory council to assist in reaching this goal.)[22]
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]
Background
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]
Kevin Chief, MLA for Point Douglas (2011–2016), Minister of Jobs and the Economy (2014–2016), Minister of Children and Youth Opportunities (2012–2014)[39] 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.[40]
Brian Mayes, Winnipeg City Councillor (2011–present) and a member of the city's executive committee, was considered a possible candidate but announced that he intends to remain at city hall.[42]
Andrew Swan, MLA for Minto (2004–2019), former cabinet minister under Doer and Selinger.[17] Said in April 2017 that he was considering a run but later endorsed Kinew.[44]