Provincial NDP defers voting-system change

By: Larry Kusch Posted: 5:31 PM CST Saturday, Mar. 7, 2015

The Manitoba NDP has put off a decision on whether to adopt a one-member-one-vote method for electing future party leaders.

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The Manitoba NDP has put off a decision on whether to adopt a one-member-one-vote method for electing future party leaders.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/03/2015 (3941 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba NDP has put off a decision on whether to adopt a one-member-one-vote method for electing future party leaders.

Delegates attending the party’s annual convention Saturday supported a motion by Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck to refer three resolutions on the issue to a committee.

Rebeck and several other delegates said it would be a mistake to decide the issue now, during the heat of a leadership campaign.

Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press
NDP delegate Rose Godin does some needlework while attending the NDP Convention Saturday held at Canad Inns Polo Park. A new leader will be chosen at the convention Sunday, but for now the party has decided to wait on imposing changes to its delegate voting system. — Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press NDP delegate Rose Godin does some needlework while attending the NDP Convention Saturday held at Canad Inns Polo Park. A new leader will be chosen at the convention Sunday, but for now the party has decided to wait on imposing changes to its delegate voting system.

“We’ve been going through a difficult time in our party and it’s been challenging and there’s been some lack of clarity, I think, on some rules. And we’ve worked hard to adjust that. I think there are some areas that need some attention and some work,” Rebeck said.

The NDP’s delegate system for choosing leaders has been widely criticized, within and outside the party, as undemocratic and concentrating too much power in the hands of organized labour.

Several delegates opposed the tabling motion, saying the current system needs to be changed and the time to do it is now.

“I don’t know why we have to delay this,” said Mynarski city councillor Ross Eadie, who favours the one-member-one-vote method system. “I hate fighting against individual members to get on a (leadership) slate.”