1971 New Democratic Party leadership election

1971 New Democratic Party leadership election

← 1961 April 21–24, 1971 1975 →
  JL JPH
Candidate David Lewis James Laxer John Paul Harney
Fourth ballot delegate count 1,046
(63.1%)
612
(36.9%)
Eliminated
Third ballot delegate count 742
(44.1%)
508
(30.2%)
431
(25.6%)
Second ballot delegate count 715
(42.5%)
407
(24.1%)
347
(20.5%)
First ballot delegate count 661
(38.9%)
378
(22.3%)
299
(17.6%)

  FH
Candidate Ed Broadbent Frank Howard
Fourth ballot delegate count Eliminated Eliminated
Third ballot delegate count Eliminated Eliminated
Second ballot delegate count 223
(13.1%)
Eliminated
First ballot delegate count 236
(13.9%)
124
(7.3%)

Leader before election

Tommy Douglas

Elected Leader

David Lewis

1971 New Democratic Party leadership election
DateApril 21–24, 1971
ConventionOttawa, Ontario
Resigning leaderTommy Douglas
Won byDavid Lewis
Ballots4
Candidates5
Spending limit$10,500[1]
New Democratic Party leadership elections
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The 1971 New Democratic Party leadership election was a leadership convention held in Ottawa from April 21 to 24 to elect a leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. Tommy Douglas retired as federal leader, and David Lewis was elected as his successor. At this convention the Waffle faction was at the zenith of its popularity and power. Donald C. MacDonald, the former Ontario NDP leader, was elected as the party's president. The major non-leadership issues were what stance would the party take in terms of Quebec sovereignty and whether policy initiatives calling for the nationalization of the oil, gas, and mining industries would pass.

  1. ^ "Greatest Spending Reported by Laxer". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. April 26, 1971. p. 4.