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September 9th, 2011

New Democrats jumpstart leadership race

Party’s federal council sets terms for “vigorous, respectful” campaign

OTTAWA - The next New Democrat leader will be chosen in Toronto on March 24, 2012.

The New Democrat Federal Council today adopted leadership race ground rules that strike a balance between growing the party in every region and getting a permanent leader in place quickly, according to national Secretary-Treasurer Rebecca Blaikie.

“These leadership rules will provide for a vigorous and respectful debate of ideas.They strike the right balance between providing time for the party to grow and ensuring we have a leader in place as soon as possible,” said Blaikie.

The leadership rules are as follows:

  • The next leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada will be selected at a leadership convention in Toronto on March 24, 2012.
  • All NDP members as of February 18, 2012 will be eligible to vote. It will be a one-member one-vote election. The NDP Federal Council did not revisit the decision of the 2006 NDP convention that established one-member one-vote.
  • Each leadership candidate must also pay a registration fee of $15,000 to the New Democratic Party.
  • The spending limit for this leadership race will be $500,000 per candidate.

The federal council also decided today that the next New Democrat policy convention will take place in 2013 in the province of Quebec.

“There was broad consensus among councillors today that this leadership race should take place in a spirit of respect and unity. Our shared goal is the same—to continue to earn the trust of Canadians, to take on the Harper Conservatives, and to elect the new leader as the next Prime Minister of Canada,” said Blaikie.