National Post (National Edition)
B.C. MP registers for NDP leadership race
But he’s not ready to commit to running
OTTAWA • British Columbia MP Peter Julian is registered as the first and only contestant in the federal NDP leadership race, but even he hasn’t committed to run.
Julian registered on Dec. 21, according to Elections Canada’s website, and he is accepting donations from supporters.
The party also confirms his candidacy, but the putative candidate himself says he still hasn’t made a final decision and won’t announce it until the new year.
“I’ve had hundreds of conversations and still have a lot of conversations to come,” Julian said in an interview Wednesday. “I need to be tracking any expenditures as I’m exploring the possibility of running and with Elections Canada, they recommended registering so that I can file those expense reports.”
In order to be listed as contestants, candidates must file paperwork including information for a financial agent and for an auditor. Their candidacy must also be approved by the chief agent of the political party they want to lead.
Despite Julian’s apparent reluctance to say he’s committed, the NDP confirms him as a formal entrant. “We are happy to confirm that Peter Julian is now an official candidate for the leadership of the NDP,” national director Robert Fox said Wednesday.
The longtime MP represents Burnaby and New Westminster, at the edges of Vancouver. He’s been in the House of Commons since 2004, and most recently served as the NDP’s House leader. He announced in October he was stepping down from that position to explore a leadership bid.
Julian said some people have sent donations “to encourage me,” and he expected a few more donations could come in this week. According to Elections Canada, candidates who receive donations must register with the agency.
Although the leadership contest opened in July, it appears Julian is the first candidate to have taken at least one of the formal steps required to enter it.
Requirements include paying a $30,000 entry fee and submitting 500 signatures from NDP members, including a minimum of 50 signatures each from the Atlantic region, Quebec, Ontario, the prairies, B.C. and the North. Julian said he has not completed either of those steps yet.
Another MP, Charlie Angus, from northern Ontario, announced late in November he was also removing himself from party responsibilities in order to consider a bid. He had served as the caucus chair since the beginning of the year. The NDP’s Ontario deputy leader, Jagmeet Singh, is also thinking about a bid.
A few favourites said early on they were not considering a bid for the leadership, but others are hoping they’ll change their minds. Those include Nathan Cullen, another B.C. MP, and former Halifax MP Megan Leslie. Cullen told the National Post in December he has not reconsidered.
Candidates must register by July 3, 2017, although party executives say a first policy debate is being planned for as early as March. Spending for the campaign is capped at $1.5 million.
Voting by mail and online, on ranked ballots, will commence Sept. 18. A leader will be chosen by Oct. 29 after several rounds of voting, or if a candidate secures 50 per cent of the vote plus one.
HAPPY TO CONFIRM THAT PETER JULIAN IS NOW AN OFFICIAL CANDIDATE.