Potential candidates line up support
REGINA — The slate of candidates for the forthcoming provincial NDP leadership race is continuing to take shape, with several likely contenders all but declaring their intentions to run.
“By the rules of the race and by I think convention and courtesy, we’re not able to declare one way or the other until September,” said Ryan Meili, the Saskatoon doctor who finished a close second to Dwain Lingenfelter in 2009’s vote for the leadership.
“I’ll stick to that. That said, I’ve definitely been getting a group of people together to explore this further,” Meili added.
“People have been excited about the possibility of me running, which is very encouraging.”
Regina MLA Trent Wotherspoon is also contemplating a bid for the leadership.
“I’m more than seriously considering entering the process and in fact it’s fair to say I’m preparing and putting together a team for a potential run,” he said Tuesday. “I’m not making an announcement … but I’m really enjoying the depth of the team that’s coming together, the ideas that are being shared and the excitement about the building and renewal of our party.”
Saskatoon MLA Cam Broten said he, too, has a group of people working with him around the possibility of running.
“The campaign doesn’t start for over a month yet, so I’m not making any announcements today. But obviously any serious candidate does a lot of groundwork in the lead up to finalizing plans and making any announcements and we’ve certainly been doing that,” Broten said, noting he won’t be “coy” about his desire to lead the party.
Labour economist Erin Weir is also widely expected to be a contender, with a team — the Committee to Draft Erin Weir — having announced numerous endorsements and put out several news releases about a potential candidacy.
“Certainly nothing’s official until September,” Weir said Tuesday. “But I’m seriously considering a run. I’m looking forward to it and I think the leadership race will be a very important part of renewing and rebuilding the Saskatchewan NDP.”
Saskatoon MLA Danielle Chartier said she is trying to decide between taking a run at the leadership or throwing her support behind someone else.
“Regardless of what I decide to do, I’ll let people know when the race officially starts on Sept. 4,” she said. “Whether I run or decide to support someone, it will be someone who shares my values and my vision for both the party and the province.”
Athabasca Saskatchewan MLA Buckley Belanger has said in the past he is considering a run, but couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.
Interim leader John Nilson and the rest of the NDP caucus members have said that they will not run.
Regina labour lawyer Juliana Saxberg, who was previously considering a run, has decided against it in order to focus on her work on the essential services legislation charter challenge at the Court of Appeal in the fall, she said.
“The timing is not right for me right now,” she said. “It was an exciting idea, but I think there’s some really awesome candidates right now and I’m excited to see how things turn out.”
The NDP leadership convention is on March 9 in Saskatoon. The campaign period officially opens on Sept. 4. The party has been without a permanent leader since Lingenfelter resigned after his seat, and more than half of the total held by his party, were lost in 2011’s provincial election.