New Democratic Party leadership conventions

NDP leadership conventions are the process by which the Canadian New Democratic Party elects its leader.

Before 2003, when a modified one member, one vote (OMOV) system was adopted, every biennial convention of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and its successor, the New Democratic Party, was a leadership convention.

However, in practice, contested elections were held only when there was a declared leadership race. In 2001, a rare exception to this occurred when Socialist Caucus member Marcel Hatch challenged Alexa McDonough from the floor of the convention; however, McDonough easily retained the leadership in the resulting vote. It also seems that in 1973 Douglas Campbell unsuccessfully challenged David Lewis' leadership.

CCF leaders J.S. Woodsworth in 1933, M.J. Coldwell in 1942 and Hazen Argue in 1960 were all elected by acclamation.

In 1961, the CCF and the Canadian Labour Congress joined to form the New Democratic Party . Trade unions were allowed to directly affiliate to the party, and a system was arranged so that up to one-third of all delegates to NDP conventions were selected by labour and the other two-thirds by NDP riding associations. This was also the case at leadership conventions, giving the labour movement a significant say in determining the party's leadership.

1961 leadership convention results

Held in Ottawa, Ontario on August 12, 1961.

First Ballot

Third Ballot

Second Ballot

1989 leadership convention results

Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on December 2, 1989.

First Ballot

Fourth Ballot

2001 leadership challenge results

"Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Sunday, November 25, 2001"

[cite news
last =
first =
coauthors = Canadian Press with Globe and Mail Update
title = McDonough fends off leadership challenge
work = Online Edition
pages =
publisher = The Globe and Mail Newspaper
date = 2001-11-25
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accessdate = 2007-05-11]

First Ballot

=2003 leadership election results=

Held in Toronto, Ontario on January 25, 2003.

First Ballot

Starting with the 2003 leadership election, the NDP instituted a modified one member one vote system in which the vote is calculated so that ballots cast by labour delegates have 25% weight in the total result, while votes cast by party members have 75%.

References and notes