Convention marks start of 2020 Campaign

Meili confident party can win over rural support needed to recapture legislature

The Saskatchewan NDP is expected to kick off its next electoral campaign by acclaiming party leader Ryan Meili as the candidate for Saskatoon Meewasin at its annual convention this weekend.

That underscores what insiders have characterized as an effort to use Meili’s first convention as leader to exhibit unity and excitement ahead of the provincial election, which is set for November 2020.

It also puts the spotlight on the party ’s new leader, who is expected to address the party faithful Saturday morning,

Insiders tend to agree that residual differences from the leadership race have dissipated, and it seems clear that the party brass are pinning the party’s electoral hopes on Meili’s ability to generate enthusiasm.

While John Tzupa, the party’s chief executive, said the three-day convention marks the beginning of the platform-planning process, it is understood that Meili plans to campaign on his earlier promise of a $15-per-hour minimum wage.

“I think this is a chance for everyone to get excited about Ryan as leader, and what he is capable of, and how strong he is, and how clearly he has a vision for how to improve the lives of the people of this province,” Tzupa said.

The NDP, which has been in opposition since the Saskatchewan Party swept to power more than a decade ago, will have significant ground to make up when Saskatchewan residents go to the polls.

Despite having won three urban by-elections since 2016, the party will occupy just 13 of 61 seats once Yens Petersen is sworn in as the MLA for Regina Northeast when the legislature resumes sitting this month.

While those victories are significant, the NDP needs to win seats outside cities to have a chance of forming government in 2020 — and losses in three rural by-elections earlier this year suggest that might be difficult.

Meili has said he plans to concentrate on the economy and “rural issues” in the upcoming legislative session, and suggested the NDP is gaining ground across the province, but the party has yet to put forward a concrete plan to win more rural seats.

“It’s no secret that we have areas of strength and areas where we have to work even harder, and absolutely we’re going to be working as we move forward,” Tzupa said.

“Everyone is well aware of how much work we have ahead of us, and how important it is for us to grow our party right across the province, and I think (Meili’s) been leading by example in that effort,” he added.

The Saskatchewan Party kicked off its own electoral campaign last month when Premier Scott

I think this is a chance for everyone to get excited about Ryan as leader, and what he is capable of, and how strong he is.

Moe was acclaimed in Rosthernshellbrook. The party has since nominated four other incumbents, including cabinet ministers Bronwyn Eyre and Jeremy Harrison.

While the governing party also has a new leader, insiders have hinted strongly that they remain confident in their electoral chances while Harrison slammed Meili’s plan to raise corporate taxes and review natural-resource royalties as “unproductive.”

It remains unclear who the Sask. Party will run against Meili in his riding.