2014 Alberta New Democratic Party leadership election

The 2014 Alberta New Democratic Party leadership election was prompted by Brian Mason's announcement on April 29, 2014 that he was resigning as leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party after a decade in the position.^[3]

2014 Alberta New Democratic Party leadership election

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Candidate Rachel Notley David Eggen Rod Loyola Party New Democratic New Democratic New Democratic Popular vote 2,512 1,005 72 Percentage 70.0% 28.0% 2.0%

Leader before election Brian Mason Elected Leader Rachel Notley

2014 Alberta New Democratic Party leadership election

Date	October 18, 2014
Convention	Edmonton^[1]
Resigning leader	Brian Mason
Won by	Rachel Notley
Ballots	1
Candidates	3
Entrance Fee	$5,000^[2]
Spending limit	$100,000^[2]

For the first time, rather than selecting the leader through a delegated convention, all NDP members were eligible to vote. A weighted voting system was used in which ballots cast by members were weighted to at least 80 per cent of the total, and votes from trade unions and other affiliated organizations were weighted at a maximum of 20 per cent.^[1][4] To be nominated, a candidate had to obtain 50 signatures from party members and make a non-refundable $5,000 deposit.^[2] Individuals could not donate more than $15,000 and contributions in excess of $100 were publicly reported. Candidates could not accept donations from publicly traded corporations with more than 100 employees.^[5]

Timeline

• April 29, 2014 - Brian Mason announces his resignation as Alberta NDP leader to take effect at the party's fall convention scheduled for October 18 and 19, 2014.
• May 27, 2014 - The party's provincial council announces leadership campaign rules, nomination fees and spending limits.^[2][4][5]
• June 2, 2014 - Nomination period officially opens.^[2]
• August 5, 2014 - Nomination period officially closes.^[6]
• October 18, 2014 - Leadership election.

Declared candidates

David Eggen

Background

MLA for Edmonton-Calder (2004-2008, 2012–present), served as executive director of Alberta Friends of Medicare (2008-2012). Has served as NDP critic for Agriculture and Food, Environment, K-12 Education, Sustainable Resource Development, and Tourism and Culture. Former teacher.

Date candidacy declared: May 24, 2014^[7]

Date officially nominated: June 13, 2014^[8]

Supporters

Support from caucus members:

Support from federal caucus members:

Support from former provincial caucus members:

Other prominent supporters: Rupinder Kaur, Former Chief of Staff to the Alberta New Democrats; Shauna Mihalicz, Alberta NDP vice-president; Aileen Burke, 2014 Macleod Federal By-Election Candidate; Denny Holmwood, New Democratic Youth of Alberta Co-Chair 2008-2010, 2008 Strathcona NDP Candidate;^[9]

Policies:

Rod Loyola

Background

NDP candidate in Edmonton-Ellerslie (2012) receiving 16% of the vote and the NDP's nominee in that riding for the next election. He works as academic programs co-ordinator at the University of Alberta and also President of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA) at the university. Loyola, 40, is also the chair of Public Interest Alberta's Post-Secondary Education task force, a spoken-word poet and executive board member Friends of Medicare and the Knottwood Community League, and founding member of the Mill Woods Artists Collective.^[10][11][12]

Date candidacy declared: July 21, 2014^[11]

Date officially nominated:

Supporters

Support from caucus members:

Support from federal caucus members:

Support from former provincial caucus members:

Other prominent supporters:

Policies:

Rachel Notley

Background

MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona, (2008–present), NDP House Leader and variously Critic for Enterprise & Advanced Education, Environment & Sustainable Resource Development, Justice & Solicitor General, and Human Services; labour lawyer, daughter of Alberta NDP leader Grant Notley (1969–1984).^[4][13]

Date candidacy declared: June 16, 2014^[14]

Date officially nominated:

Supporters

Support from caucus members: Deron Bilous (Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview) [1]

Support from federal caucus members: Linda Duncan (Edmonton--Strathcona)^[15]

Support from former provincial caucus members: Barrie Chivers (Edmonton-Strathcona, 1990-1993);^[15] Jim Gurnett, (Spirit River-Fairview, 1985-1986);^[15] Bob Hawkesworth (Calgary-Mountain View, 1986-1993) and former Calgary city councillor^[13]

Other prominent supporters: Lori Sigurdson, NDP Candidate (Edmonton-Riverview, 2012);^[15] Mandy Melnyk, NDP candidate (Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater, 2012); Marlin Schmidt, NDP candidate (Edmonton Gold Bar, 2012); Sarah Hoffman, Edmonton Public School Trustee; Mark Sandilands, NDP federal and provincial candidate

Policies:

Declined

• Deron Bilous, MLA for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, (2012–present), teacher.^[4] (Endorsed Notley) [2]
• Larry Booi, former president Alberta Teachers' Association^[4]
• Mandy Melnyk, NDP candidate in Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater (2012), has endorsed Notley^[4][15]
• Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour (2005–present).^[4][16]
• Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Public Interest Alberta^[4]

Results

Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Rachel Notley	2,512	70.0^[17]
David Eggen	1,005	28.0^[17]
Rod Loyola	72	2.0^[17]
Total	3,589^[17]	100

See also

• Alberta New Democratic Party leadership elections

References

1. . Times-Colonist. May 2, 2014. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
2. "Alberta NDP leadership race opens June 2". Global News. May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
3. "Alberta NDP to pick new leader in Edmonton". Global News. May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
4. "Good timing' as Alberta's NDP heads into first contested leadership race since late 1990s". Edmonton Journal. May 13, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
5. "Alberta NDP sets leadership rules". Edmonton Journal. May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
6. "Nominations close for Alberta NDP leadership candidates". Global News. August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
7. "David Eggen to seek leadership of Alberta NDP". Edmonton Journal. May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
8. "Edmonton MLA David Eggen officially enters Alberta NDP leadership race". Global News. June 13, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
9. . Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
10. "Home". rodloyola.ca.
11. "Rod Loyola enters Alberta NDP leadership race". Global News. July 21, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
12. "Loyola launches Alberta NDP leadership bid". Edmonton Journal. July 21, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
13. "Don't underestimate the power of Notley brand". Calgary Herald. June 4, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.^{[permanent dead link]}
14. . Calgary Herald. June 16, 2014. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
15. . Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
16. "Alberta labour boss casts eye on possible run for provincial NDP leadership". Global News. Canadian Press. May 27, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
17. "Rachel Notley becomes new leader of Alberta NDP | Globalnews.ca".