Manitoba NDP says membership is up sharply in advance of leadership vote
CBC News | Posted: January 9, 2015 10:45 PM | Last Updated: January 9, 2015
Theresa Oswald camp brings in 1,000 new members, Steve Ashton team signs up 600 people
Manitoba's governing New Democrats say the race for the party leadership has driven up membership numbers.
The party says there are 12,238 people signed up to be eligible for delegate selection for the March 8 vote during the NDP's annual convention.
That's an increase of more than 5,500 from November, before the leadership race was called.
But it's below the 14,000 total for the last race in 2009.
Theresa Oswald has said her camp has brought in about 1,000 new members, while Steve Ashton says his team signed up 600 people in Thompson, Man. alone.
Premier Greg Selinger, who is running to keep his job, called for the leadership vote after a caucus revolt late last year.