2009 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election
Template:Future election in Canada
| Date | March 6-8, 2009 |
|---|---|
| Convention | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Resigning leader | Howard Hampton |
| Won by | TBD |
| Ballots | TBD |
| Candidates | 4 |
| Entrance Fee | $10,000 (plus a $5,000 refundable deposit) |
| Spending limit | $500,000[1] |
The 2009 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership convention will be held in Hamilton, from March 6 to 8, 2009 to elect a successor to Howard Hampton as leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP). On June 15, 2008, Hampton informed the party's provincial council that he will not stand for re-election as leader at the next party convention in a year's time.[2][3] While a leadership vote was held at each biennial convention of the Ontario NDP until and including the last regular convention in 2007, there is normally not a contested vote unless there is a vacancy, therefore, the 2009 vote will be the party's first leadership convention since Hampton was elected in 1996 to succeed Bob Rae.
Officially declared candidates
Bisson, 51, is the MPP for Timmins—James Bay. He was first elected in the 1990 provincial election in the riding of Cochrane South. He served as parliamentary assistant to the Ministers of Northern Development and Mines and Francophone Affairs from 1990 until 1995. He was re-elected by a greater margin in Cochrane South in the 1995 election. He was subsequently re-elected in Timmins—James Bay in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections. Before entering politics, he was a labour union organizer.
High profile supporters:
Date campaign announced: July 14, 2008[4]
Date campaign officially launched: August 28, 2008[5]
Date officially registered: August 27, 2008[2]
Website: gillesbissonforleader.com
Horwath, 45, is the MPP for Hamilton Centre. She was defeated in the 1997 federal election in Hamilton West, where she finished a distant second place. She was first elected to Hamilton City Council in 1997, representing Ward 2. She was re-elected in 2000 and again in 2003. She was first elected to the Ontario legislature in a by-election in 2004 in the riding of Hamilton East with 63.6% of the vote. She was subsequently re-elected in the riding of Hamilton Centre in the 2007 election. Before entering politics, she was a community development worker.
High profile supporters: David Christopherson, MP, Hamilton Centre [6] , Elaine MacDonald, Cornwall City Councillor and former NDP candidate[7]
Date campaign announced: July 15, 2008[8]
Date campaign officially launched: November 7, 2008[9]
Date officially registered: September 19, 2008 [3]
Website: andreahorwath.com
Prue, 60, is the MPP for Beaches—East York. He has been an MPP since 2001 when he defeated Liberal Bob Hunter in a hotly contested by-election.[10][11][12][1] Prue was first elected to public office as a city councillor in 1988, and then became Mayor in 1993 of the former Borough of East York. In 1997, East York was amalgamated into the City of Toronto and Prue was elected to Toronto City Council, where he served until his election to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Prue was re-elected as MPP of Beaches-East York in 2003, and again in 2007. Prior to entering politics, Prue worked as counsel for the Minister of Employment and Immigration.
High profile supporters: Marilyn Churley, former NDP MPP[13]; Maria Augimeri, Toronto City Councillor (Ward 9); Howard Moscoe, Toronto City Councillor (Ward 15) & former TTC Chair; Joe Mihevc, Toronto City Councillor (Ward 21); Janet Davis, Toronto City Councillor (Ward 31); Sandra Bussin, Toronto City Councillor (Ward 32), Darlene Jalbert, former NDP candidate[14]
Date campaign announced: July 18, 2008[15]
Date campaign officially launched: July 18, 2008[16]
Date officially registered: August 27, 2008[4]
Website: prueforleader.ca
Tabuns, 57, is the MPP for Toronto—Danforth. Tabuns served on Toronto City Council from 1990 to 1997 representing Ward 8. He was defeated in 1997 ironically by two NDP affiliated candidates (one of whom being NDP leader Jack Layton who now represents Tabuns' riding in the House of Commons) when Toronto City Council was amalgamated with the Metro Council. From 1999 to 2004 he served as the executive director of Greenpeace Canada. In the Canadian federal election, 2004 he ran in the riding of Beaches—East York where he lost to Liberal MP Maria Minna. He received 32% of the vote. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in a by-election in 2006 in which he received 48% of the vote. He was re-elected in the 2007 election with 46% of the vote, Before entering politics, he was an insurance clerk.
High profile supporters: Cheri DiNovo, MPP for Parkdale—High Park; Jill Marzetti, former ONDP provincial secretary; Bruce Cox, former ONDP provincial secretary; Janet Solberg, former ONDP president, daughter of David Lewis.
Date campaign announced: NA
Date campaign officially launched: October 26, 2008
Date officially registered: August 15, 2008 [5]
Website: tabuns09.ca
Potential candidates
According to press reports there are a number of possible leadership candidates. Most often mentioned are current and former MPPs who have served at Queen's Park but several NDP Members of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons have also been mentioned as possible candidates.
Current MPPs who are potential candidates
Including outgoing leader Howard Hampton, there are currently 10 MPPs in the provincial caucus, two of whom have already indicated that they do not intend to stand as candidates.
- Peter Kormos, MPP for Niagara Centre, third place finisher at the 1996 leadership convention.[17]
- Rosario Marchese, MPP for Trinity-Spadina, former Minister of Culture and Communications.[18]
Current MPs who are potential candidates
There are currently 17 NDP MPs from Ontario in the federal House of Commons, two of whom have been been mentioned as possible candidates and have not announced that they are not running.
- Olivia Chow, MP for Trinity—Spadina.[19]
- Brian Masse, MP for Windsor West.[20]
Others
- Leah Casselman, former president of OPSEU.[20]
- Jodie Jenkins, a 2003 and 2007 provincial candidate from Belleville has announced his intention to run.[21]
- Sid Ryan, president of CUPE Ontario, former NDP candidate.[20]
Not running
- Charlie Angus, MP for Timmins—James Bay.[1][22][19]
- David Christopherson, MP for Hamilton Centre.[1]
- Marilyn Churley, former MPP and cabinet minister.[1]
- Cheri DiNovo, MPP for Parkdale—High Park.[3] DiNovo is quoted saying as saying running for the leadership is "not me, babe" when asked about her intentions.[23]
- France Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt. She told Northern Life that she is not running for the position saying, “Though I am flattered by the calls I have received since Howard's announcement, I am a new politician. There is lots to learn as the member for Nickel Belt.”[24]
- Frances Lankin, former MPP and cabinet minister, runner-up at the 1996 leadership convention and, since 2001, president of the United Way for Greater Toronto.[3] She is "not interested" according to the Star. [23]
- Andre Marin, Ombudsman for Ontario. His spokesperson dismissed rumours of his candidacy as wild speculation, adding that he has never been a member of the NDP or had any association with it or any other provincial party, and he intends to serve out his term as ombudsman.[10]
- Tony Martin, MP for Sault Ste. Marie.[24][25]
- David Miller, Mayor of Toronto and former NDP federal and provincial candidate, has also been mentioned as a possible candidate, although he has not been an NDP member since 2007. The Toronto Star states that Miller is "not interested."[26][23]
- Peggy Nash, Former MP for Parkdale—High Park.[27] Nash has returned to her former job at the Canadian Auto Workers after deciding against seeking the Ontario NDP leadership telling the Toronto Star "Many people have approached me about it. It certainly was something I considered, but the timing was never good. Other candidates had been at this for some time."[28]
Procedure
In the past, the Ontario NDP has used a traditional delegated leadership convention to select its leaders in which delegates elected by local riding associations, campus clubs, labour union locals affiliated with the party choose the leader. However, at its January 2007 provincial convention, the Ontario NDP amended its constitution bringing in a One Member One Vote procedure modelled on that used by the New Democratic Party of Canada in its 2003 federal leadership election in which the votes of all party members is weighted to 75% of the total with the remaining 25% being allocated to the party's affiliates (mostly labour unions).
The ONDP constitution (article 9, paragraph 4) stipulates that:
- (a) Every member is entitled to cast a ballot for the election of the Leader.
- (b) The ballots cast by Party members shall be weighted to a total of 75% of the votes counted in a Leadership election, and the balance, 25% of the votes counted in a Leadership election, shall be allocated among the affiliated members.
- (c) At every regular convention that is not a leadership convention, a secret ballot vote will be held to determine whether or not a leadership election should be called. If a majority of the voting delegates supports the calling of a leadership election, such an election will be held within one year of the convention vote.
- (d) The Leader will be chosen by secret ballot. Candidates for the leadership with the fewest number of weighted votes will drop off the ballot in subsequent rounds until one candidate receives a majority of the total weighted votes cast in that round. Other leadership selection procedures will be determined by Provincial Council.[29]
The party’s Executive Committee will finalize the deadlines, spending limits and other rules to be used for the March 2009 election.[30] According to news reports, the spending limit will be $500,000 and the cut-off for new members is January 2009. Membership fees are $25 with a reduced rate of $5 for students and the unemployed.[1] The entrance fee for candidates is $15,000 ($5,000 of which is refundable after the election) and the party and candidates are required to and provide the signatures of 100 party members, at least half of them women, from all four regions of the province. Candidates will be allowed to spend up to $500,000 and 40% of the money candidates raise is to be remitted to the party.[10] Two-time NDP candidate Michael Laxer has criticized the entrance fee as being too high saying, "What you get by doing that is you manifestly limit the number of people who are outside the party establishment, and who have available big backers of one kind or another."[31]
Timeline
- October 10, 2007 - The 2007 Ontario provincial election is held. The Ontario Liberal Party is re-elected to a second majority government. The NDP, led by Howard Hampton, finishes in third place winning 10 seats and 16.76% of the vote, a 3 seat and 2% popular vote increase over the 2004 election (but no net change on the 10 seats held when the legislature was dissolved; the party gained 3 seats through by-elections between the two elections).
- June 14, 2008 - Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton informs the party's provincial council that he will not stand for re-election as leader at the next party convention in March 2009.
- July 14, 2008 - MPP Gilles Bisson declares his intention to become a candidate. [4]
- July 15, 2008 - First date that candidates can officially register; campaign officially begins.[1][32]
- July 15, 2008 - MPP Andrea Horwath declares her intention to become a candidate. [32]
- July 18, 2008 - MPP Michael Prue officially announces his candidacy.[15]
- September 30, 2008 - Deadline for registration for candidates to ensure inclusion in all the party leadership forums and in the information package mailing.[33]
- October 26, 2008 - MPP Peter Tabuns officially launches his campaign.
- November 1, 2008 - Bisson, Horwath, Prue and Tabuns participate in an NDP Socialist Caucus sponsored all-candidates meeting in Toronto; their first debate.
- November 8-9, 2008 - NDP Provincial Council meeting at the Toronto Ramada Inn will decide the specific method of casting ballots for the leadership election; the first official party sponsored leadership debate will occur at Council on November 8 at 10 am[33]
Upcoming events
- November 15, 2008 - Second official leadership debate is held in Sudbury.
- November 23, 2008 - Leaders debate at the Ontario New Democratic Youth convention at Ryerson University in Toronto.
- December 6, 2008 - Debate at Ontario NDP Women's Committee Conference, Toronto, 1pm
- December 13, 2008 - Fourth official debate, Kingston, 10am.
- December 31, 2008 - Deadline for leadership candidates to register.[33]
- January 5, 2009 - Deadline for new and renewed memberships to be received by the provincial office and be eligible to vote in the leadership election.[33]
- January 10, 2009 - Fifth official debate
- January 17, 2009 - Sixth official debate
- January 24, 2009 - Seventh official debate
- February 8, 2009 - Eighth official debate
- February 14, 2009 - Ninth official debate
- March 6- 8, 2009 - Leadership convention to be held in Hamilton.[34][32]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Babbage, Maria, "Ontario NDP leadership race promises to be gruelling for candidates", Canadian Press, June 23, 2008
- ^ Hampton won't seek re-election as NDP leader, CTV News, June 14, 2008
- ^ a b c Leslie, Keith (Canadian Press), "Hampton to step down as NDP leader: Sources", Toronto Star, June 13, 2008
- ^ a b "Veteran MPP to run for leadership of Ontario NDP", Globe and Mail Update, 14 July 2008
- ^ http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/486965
- ^ Morse, Paul, "Hamilton MPP 'would be excellent leader' of NDP", Hamilton Spectator, June 14, 2008
- ^ http://www.standard-freeholder.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1294344
- ^ Nolan, Daniel, Horwath seeks NDP leadership in Ontario, Hamilton Spectator, July 15, 2008
- ^ http://www.thespec.com/News/article/462841
- ^ a b c Babbage, Maria; "Campaigning begins for would-be contenders to lead Ontario NDP", Canadian Press, July 14, 2008
- ^ No Nash for Ontario NDP , Town Crier, July 8, 2008
- ^ Ferguson, Rob and Benzie, Robert, "Hampton steps aside as NDP leader", Toronto Star, June 14, 2008
- ^ "Prue, Tabuns look at NDP leadership " Town Crier, July 18, 2008
- ^ http://www.standard-freeholder.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1294344
- ^ a b Prue opens NDP leadership bid with school funding controversy, CBC News, July 18, 2007
- ^ Former East York mayor Michael Prue first into NDP leadership race, Canadian Press, July 18, 2008
- ^ Taylor Parnaby Reports, CFRB-AM, June 14, 2008
- ^ Marchese considers running for Ontario NDP leader's job
- ^ a b Cowan, James, "Hampton expects several MPs could seek Ontario NDP leadership", Canwest News Service, June 15, 2008
- ^ a b c Benzie, "Race to succeed Hampton crowded", Toronto Star, June 28, 2008
- ^ Jenkins to take run at NDP leadership, Belleville Intelligencer, June 17, 2008
- ^ Artuso, Antonella, "Hampton out as NDP boss, North Bay Nugget, June 14, 2008
- ^ a b c Editorial, "Hampton's departure", Toronto Star, June 17, 2008,
- ^ a b Bradley, Bill, "Gelinas declines to run to replace NDP leader", Northern Life, June 16, 2008
- ^ Kelly, Brian, "Martin won't seek top NDP job, but eager to know who will", Sault Star, June 30, 2008
- ^ "Hampton urges ‘robust' leadership race for successor", Canadian Press, June 14, 2008.
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/538660
- ^ Ontario New Democratic Party Constitution as amended January 2007.
- ^ Hampton will not seek re-election as party leader, Ontario NDP website, June 14, 2008
- ^ "Critic says NDP leadership race too expensive", CBC News, Thursday, July 17, 2008
- ^ a b c ONDP Media Release, "NDP prepares for exhilarating leadership contest", June 24, 2008 Cite error: The named reference "state" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c d THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ONTARIO RULES FOR ONE-MEMBER-ONE-VOTE LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN, 6/30/2008
- ^ NDP Caucus Services, Hampton will not seek re-election as party leader, Canada NewsWire, June 14, 2008