New Democratic Party releases 2018 Leadership Convention rules and deadlines
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The Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party has released the rules and deadlines for the 2018 Leadership Convention.
The Leadership Convention will take place April 6-8, 2018 in St. John’s.
The NL NDP Provincial Executive has appointed Lynn Moore, lawyer and advocate, as Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). Moore will oversee the process of the leadership contest. Moore also acted as CEO for the leadership contest in 2015.
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The deadline for registration in order to appear on the leadership contest ballot is 5:00 p.m. NL time February 28, 2018.
The NL NDP will organize one mandatory leadership debate for officially registered candidates.
All those who are party members by March 7, 2018, are eligible to cast a ballot in the leadership contest. All memberships valid on the cut-off date will receive voting credentials. Voting will be one-member, one-vote ballot and available online, by telephone, and in person.
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2018 Leadership Convention Rules
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Principles
The rules for the leadership contest shall comply with the Constitution of the Party and with the NL Elections Act.
Chief Electoral Officer
A Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) will be appointed by the Provincial Executive to oversee the process of the leadership contest. The CEO is the final authority on all the rules and regulations of the leadership contest.
Candidates will direct any questions about the leadership rules and regulations or other matters associated with their leadership campaign in writing to the CEO. The CEO will respond including the question and the answer to all candidates. As deemed necessary, the CEO may liaise with the Executive of the NL NDP to discuss and formulate responses.
Candidates for Leadership
A leadership candidate may be any member of the NL NDP in good standing as defined by Article 4 of the Constitution of the Party.
A leadership candidate must meet the following requirements:
• Complete and file registration papers with the CEO duly signed by 20 NL NDP members in good standing from a minimum of five electoral districts. Gender parity is required for these signatories.
• Complete and file a Candidate Disclosure Statement with the CEO.
• Pay a non-refundable registration fee of $2,000 at time of registration as a leadership candidate.
The decision to accept or reject a candidate’s registration is at the discretion of the CEO.
Once the CEO finds the registration and candidate disclosure statement in order, a registered candidate will be eligible for any services provided by the Party.
Deadline for Registration of a Leadership Candidate
The deadline for registration in order to appear on the leadership contest ballot is 5:00 p.m. NL time February 28, 2018.
Campaign Period
For the purposes of reporting expenses and accepting contributions, the campaign period shall be from the date the leadership contest rules are publicly announced to the final date of the leadership vote.
Prospective candidates may initiate the registration process in advance of the campaign period.
Election Expenses
The spending limit on election expenses by a candidate will be $25,000.
Election expenses means any expenses incurred by a leadership candidate in respect of the conduct or management of the leadership candidate's campaign, including amounts paid, liabilities incurred, the commercial value of goods and services donated or provided, other than volunteer labour.
The candidate registration fee is considered part of election expenses.
Leadership Debate
The NL NDP will organize one mandatory leadership debate for officially registered candidates. The debate will be organized at the discretion of the CEO. The NL NDP will be responsible for advertising the debate.
Leadership Selection: Voting Procedure
All those who are party members by March 7, 2018, are eligible to cast a ballot in the leadership contest. All memberships valid on the cut-off date will receive voting credentials.
Voting will be one-member, one-vote ballot.
Voting will take place in one of the three ways:
Online: by electronic ballot
Telephone: by touch-tone dial-pad
In person: as a delegate by paper at a designated time at the Convention.
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Those interested in becoming members of the provincial NDP can sign up through the website: nl.ndp.ca/sign-up.
For more information email info@nl.ndp.ca.
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About the Chief Electoral Officer
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Lynn Moore biography
Lynn Moore is a founding partner of Morris Martin Moore and works almost exclusively in the area of sexual abuse litigation – she sues institutions and governments on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse. Before entering private practice, she spent 20 years as a Crown Attorney and civil litigator. In 2013, Lynn decided to leave the civil service so that she could represent survivors of sexual abuse, working to get financial compensation for them.
Lynn is a vocal advocate for equality and human rights for all people, especially those historically marginalized by colonialism, racism, gender, gender expression, homophobia, and transphobia. She has worked with the Safe Harbour Outreach Program (SHOP) – a program designed to make sex workers safer and more secure. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Iris Kirby House and a former member of the Board of Directors for the St. John’s Status of Women.
Lynn graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1992 and completed the requirements for her Bachelor of Arts in 1989. She is married and is mother and stepmother to five amazing individuals.
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