NDP gives new twist to leadership contest

OTTAWA — Think of it as a typical political leadership convention, with candidates jostling for support in a series of ballots — except without any actual gathering of delegates and with the voting taking place largely online.

That is the format the federal New Democrats will use to pick a replacement for the outgoing Tom Mulcair.

But first they’ll need candidates. So far, only British Columbia MP Peter Julian has declared he wants the job after officially entering the race Feb. 12.

The party announced Friday that balloting in the leadership contest will begin Sept. 18, the day after a “showcase” event featuring all of the candidates.

New Democrats hope the format helps to capture some of the drama of a traditional convention, even though party faithful will pick a successor to Mulcair through a mainly online voting process which could stretch over weeks. Votes can also be cast by mail.

Results of the first round of voting are to be announced Oct. 1. Subsequent rounds, if needed, are scheduled each week thereafter until one candidate receives more than half the votes, with a possible fifth round result by Oct. 29.

Candidates knocked off the ballot after each round will be able to endorse any of the other remaining candidates. At that point party members will have the chance to change their votes to another contender.

“And so we might see, over the course of weeks, candidates challenging each other on certain issues,” Devereux said.

“This model means that … people will be organizing phone trees, telephone town halls, public meetings, rallies,” added NDP national director Robert Fox.

A series of debates in spring and summer will build up to the showcase event in Toronto where candidates can give speeches, play videos, enlist performers or do anything else they think could attract votes.

The first of several leadership debates is scheduled for March 12 in Ottawa.

Prospective candidates have until July 3 to officially enter the race. Canadians have until Aug. 17 to sign a membership card if they want to be eligible to vote.