Ryan Meili new leader of Saskatchewan NDP
Ryan Meili is the new leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party.
He won with 55 per cent of the vote over rival Regina Rosemont MLA Trent Wotherspoon. Meili has served as the MLA for Saskatoon Meewasin since his victory in a January 2017 byelection.
“It is blowing pretty hard today. I think those might be the winds of change,” he said in his victory speech to applause from the crowd in Regina at the party’s leadership convention Saturday.
Third time proved to be a charm for Meili, as he lost both his previous attempts at leadership in 2009 and 2013. At the 2013 leadership convention, Meili led after the first ballot and Wotherspoon was third. Cam Broten edged Meili by just 44 votes to win. This race was his first run at leadership as an elected MLA.