NDP to accommodate northern Manitoba delegates after all
CBC News | Posted: January 25, 2015 9:38 PM | Last Updated: January 26, 2015
NDP provincial council overturns ruling, approves satellite voting for northerners
New Democrats decided to accommodate northern Manitoba delegates Sunday, opting to allow mail-in ballots for the upcoming NDP leadership election for those unable to attend the annual Winnipeg convention.
The announcement followed a heated back and forth last week after party executive members voted not to accept mail-in ballots from northern delegates at the NDP's convention March 6.
NDP president Ellen Olfert told CBC News last week the party's constitution wasn't equipped to allow for special voting arrangements at the upcoming convention.
However, following the decision Sunday, Olfert said steps are now underway to ensure those in the north have what they need to vote remotely.
"The technicalities will be worked out," Olfert said Sunday following the decision. "We are in the process of sending out the ballots for delegate selection and on the heels of that we will be working to send delegates ballots for leadership selection."
Some northern members filed a complaint over the decision, prompting a teleconference meeting Sunday morning that saw the party's provincial council intervene and overturn the ruling. Five northern constituencies—The Pas, Flin Flon, Thompson, Churchill-Keewatinook Aski and Swan River—will now be able to cast ballets remotely in the leadership election.
Today is a step forward for democracy. It's a step forward for what is right and I am very proud to say I am a New Democrat today. - Tyler Duncan
Party executives were initially concerned that allowing for mail-in ballots from remote communities would result in northern delegates not attending the annual convention in March and missing out on policy decisions.
All three leadership candidates supported accommodating northerners — particularly Steve Ashton.
Political scientist Raymond Hebert called Sunday's development a big win for Ashton's campaign.
"His strongest support is in the north, of course, and we are talking about northern ridings," said Hebert.
But more than just a victory for his campaign, Ashton said the decision was important as a measure of fairness to northern voters.
"This is not about a victory for our campaign," said Ashton. "Certainly I'm very pleased that many of our supporters will now get a chance to vote. It really was about fairness and democracy."
Ashton and northern delegate Tyler Duncan, who previously argued the party had a moral duty to accommodate northerners, held a joint press conference Sunday following the ruling and applauded the move.
"We're talking a lot of people [who] would have been totally ostracized and left out of this process," said Duncan. "Today is a step forward for democracy. It's a step forward for what is right and I am very proud to say I am a New Democrat today."
The provincial NDP will select its new leader at its annual convention in Winnipeg March 6 to 8.