2003 New Democratic Party leadership election

The 2003 New Democratic Party leadership election was held to replace New Democratic Party of Canada leader Alexa McDonough, after her retirement. It ended on January 25, 2003, with the first ballot victory of popular Toronto city councillor Jack Layton.

2003 New Democratic Party leadership election
January 25, 2003
 
Candidate Jack Layton Bill Blaikie
Member votes 22,453
(51.44%)		 10,914
(25.00%)
Labour votes 572
(59.77%)		 227
(23.72%)
Weighted votes 31,149.95
(53.52%)		 14,365.41
(24.68%)
 
Candidate Lorne Nystrom Joe Comartin
Member votes 4,865
(11.14%)		 3,289
(7.53%)
Labour votes 35
(3.66%)		 79
(8.25%)
Weighted votes 5,397.16
(9.27%)		 4,490.15
(7.71%)
Leader before election

Alexa McDonough

 Elected Leader

Jack Layton

2003 New Democratic Party leadership election
DateJanuary 24, 2003
ConventionRicoh Coliseum,
Exhibition Place
Toronto, Ontario
Resigning leaderAlexa McDonough
Won byJack Layton
Ballots1
Candidates6
Entrance Fee$7,500
Spending limit$500,000

The election was the first to be conducted under the NDP's new partial one member, one vote system, in which the popular vote of the members is weighted for 75% of the result. The rest are votes cast by delegates for affiliated organizations (mainly labour unions). It was also the first Canadian leadership convention to allow Internet voting; delegates who chose to vote electronically were given a password to a secure website to register their votes.

The race was heated, with the leaders campaigning to NDP audiences across Canada. One of the most notable events of the campaign occurred at the convention in Toronto, the day before the election, when candidate Pierre Ducasse made a stirring speech.[1] Ducasse's speech attracted widespread praise,[2][3] although its late delivery was unable to sway the postal and internet votes which had already been cast.

Candidates

Jack Layton
Jack Layton

At the time of the election, Jack Layton was the Toronto City Councillor for Ward 30 and vice chair of Toronto Hydro, and a former university lecturer and environmental consultant. He had run and lost in both the 1993 and 1997 federal elections. His emphases included homelessness, affordable housing, opposing violence, the natural environment and the green economy. While other campaigns stressed federal experience, Layton's campaign contended that his record on Toronto council and as former president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities encompassed national issues and would transfer to the federal stage, and that as Alexa McDonough had on her election as leader, he could lead the party successfully from outside Parliament until winning his own seat.

Bill Blaikie
Bill Blaikie

At the time of the election, Bill Blaikie was the MP for Winnipeg-Transcona, the NDP House leader and the critic on intergovernmental affairs, justice, the Solicitor General, and parliamentary reform. He had been a Member of Parliament for over 20 years. His emphases included trade, Medicare, taxes and the environment, and his parliamentary experience. An ordained minister in the United Church of Canada, Blaikie was a prominent heir to the Social Gospel, Christian left tradition deeply rooted in the NDP.

Lorne Nystrom
Lorne Nystrom

Lorne Nystrom was the MP for Regina—Qu'Appelle at the time of the election, and the NDP critic of economic policy, finance, banks, national revenue, public accounts, Crown corporations and electoral reform. Through his 29 years in Parliament, it was the third time he had run for leader. Nystrom campaigned heavily on the issue of electoral reform. Other emphases included his parliamentary experience and practical left-wing economics; he had edited a book on financial issues, Just Making Change.

  • Date campaign launched: July 31, 2002

Joe Comartin
Joe Comartin

Joe Comartin was the MP for Windsor—St. Clair and the party's environment critic at the time of the election. His election in 2000 had been the first federal win for the NDP in Ontario in ten years, and he had helped add a second Ontario seat with Brian Masse's win in the neighbouring riding of Windsor West in 2002. He emphasised foreign affairs, particularly in the Middle East, and his campaign included significant outreach to Arab and Muslim Canadians. Comartin received high profile support from the Canadian Auto Workers. Of the candidates, Comartin was considered the furthest left on economic policy.[4]

Pierre Ducasse
Pierre Ducasse

Pierre Ducasse was the Associate President of the NDP at the time of the election. His underdog campaign stressed outreach in Quebec and building the party toward electoral success. It also drew on Ducasse's background in co-operative economics.

Bev Meslo

Bev Meslo was a Vancouver-area activist and represented the New Democratic Party Socialist Caucus in the leadership election.

Results
Candidate Membership Votes  % Labour Votes  % Labour Votes Weighted Total Votes  % Campaign Contributions  %
Jack Layton22,45351.4%57259.8%8,696.950231,149.950253.5%$446,472.0053.8%
Bill Blaikie10,91425.0%22723.7%3,451.412114,365.412124.7%$195,569.0023.6%
Lorne Nystrom4,86511.1%353.7%532.15605,397.15609.3%$89,684.0010.8%
Joe Comartin3,2897.5%798.3%1,201.15224,490.15227.7%$70,712.008.5%
Pierre Ducasse1,5773.6%384.0%577.76942,154.76943.7%$18,688.002.3%
Bev Meslo5541.3%60.6%91.2268645.22681.1%$8,815.001.1%
Total43,652100.0%957100.0%14,550.666758,202.6667100.0%$829,940.00100.0%

NOTES:[5]

The labour votes at convention were weighted to equal 1/3 of the total membership votes cast (43,652 / 3 = 14,550.67).

This was done to ensure that labour held 25% of the total votes cast for Leader, as required by the NDP Constitution.

As a result, the vote of each labour delegate was equal to approximately 15.2 membership votes.

Campaign contributions were those reported on the interim financial statements, as of November 30, 2002.

Timeline

2002
  • June 5: Alexa McDonough announces she will step down as leader.
  • June 17: Bill Blaikie declares his candidacy.
  • July 5–7: The NDP Federal Council convenes to adopt rules.
  • June 25: Pierre Ducasse declares his candidacy.
  • July 22: Jack Layton declares his candidacy.
  • July 30: Bev Meslo declares her candidacy.
  • July 31: Lorne Nystrom declares his candidacy.
  • August 13: Joe Comartin declares his candidacy.
  • November 26: Final day for candidates to declare candidacy.
  • December 12: Last day to become an NDP member who can vote.

2003
  • January 24: The convention begins in Toronto, Ontario.
  • January 25: Ballots are cast, Layton declared victorious.

Notes
  1. "Imagination | Solutions". Pierreducasse.ca. January 25, 2003. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  2. dru in canada (January 25, 2003). "NDP Leadership". misnomer. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  3. "Canada Election 2004 Voter Guide: Political Parties - New Democratic Party (NDP)". Mondopolitico.com. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  4. Chung, Andrew. "Who will guide the NDP to success?" Toronto Star, January 20, 2003.
  5. "NDP 2003 Leadership Voting Analysis". Straight Goods News. January 30, 2003. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
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