The 2009 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election was held in Hamilton, from March 6 to 8, 2009 to elect a successor to Howard Hampton as leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP). On June 15, 2008, Hampton informed the party's provincial council that he would not stand for re-election as leader at the next party convention in a year's time. While a leadership vote was held at each biennial convention of the Ontario NDP until and including the last regular convention in 2007, there is normally not a contested vote unless there is a vacancy, therefore, the 2009 vote was the party's first leadership convention since Hampton was elected in 1996 to succeed Bob Rae.
With the support of high-profile party members such as the left-wing MPP Peter Kormos and Sid Ryan, the President of CUPE Ontario, Andrea Horwath, the MPP for Hamilton Centre, won the leadership contest with 60.4% of the vote on the final ballot. As of 2022, it remains the last leadership election held by the Ontario New Democratic Party.
Candidates
Gilles Bisson
Gilles Bisson is the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Timmins—James Bay. He was first elected in the 1990 provincial election in the riding of Cochrane South. He served as parliamentary assistant to the Ministers of Northern Development and Mines and Francophone Affairs from 1990 until 1995. He was re-elected by a greater margin in Cochrane South in the 1995 election. He was subsequently re-elected in Timmins—James Bay in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections. Before entering politics, he was a labour union organizer. Date campaign announced: July 14, 2008 Date campaign officially launched: August 28, 2008 Date officially registered: August 27, 2008 Endorsements MPs: (7) Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay), Claude Gravelle (Nickel Belt), Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing), Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay—Superior North), Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie), John Rafferty (Thunder Bay—Rainy River), Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury) MPPs: (1) France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) Former MPPs: (1) Wayne Lessard (Windsor—Walkerville, 1990-95; Windsor—Riverside, 1997–99) Other prominent individuals: (5) Tania Cameron (federal candidate for Kenora, 2008; Band Manager of Dalles First Nation), Dianna Allen (federal candidate for Nipissing—Timiskaming, 2008), Gord Wilson (President, Ontario Federation of Labour, 1986–97), Fred Upshaw (Former President, Ontario Public Services Employees Union, 1990–95); Dave Killham (executive director, Workers Health and Safety Centre) Trade union and other organizations: (1) United Food and Commercial Workers Union Andrea Horwath
Andrea Horwath is the MPP for Hamilton Centre. She was defeated in the 1997 federal election in Hamilton West, where she finished a distant second place. She was first elected to Hamilton, Ontario City Council in 1997, representing Ward 2. She was re-elected in 2000 and again in 2003. She was first elected to the Ontario legislature in a by-election in 2004 in the riding of Hamilton East with 63.6% of the vote. She was subsequently re-elected in the riding of Hamilton Centre in the 2007 election. Before entering politics, she was a community development worker.
Date campaign announced: July 15, 2008 Date campaign officially launched: November 7, 2008 Date officially registered: September 19, 2008 Endorsements MPs: (3) Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain), David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre),Morse, Paul, "Hamilton MPP 'would be excellent leader' of NDP" , Hamilton Spectator, June 14, 2008 Malcolm Allen (Welland) MPPs: (2) Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre), Rosario Marchese (Trinity—Spadina) Municipal politicians: (1) Elaine MacDonald (Cornwall Councillor) Other prominent individuals: (5) Wayne Samuelson (President, Ontario Federation of Labour), Leah Casselman (President, Ontario Public Services Employees Union, 1995–2007), Irene Harris (Secretary/Treasurer, Ontario Federation of Labour); Wayne Fraser (Director of District 6 (Ontario and Atlantic Region), United Steel Workers of America); Leo Gerard (President, United Steel Workers of America); Sid Ryan (President, CUPE Ontario) Trade union and other organizations: (1) SEIU Local 1
Michael Prue
Michael Prue was the MPP for Beaches—East York. He has been an MPP since 2001 when he defeated Liberal Bob Hunter in a hotly contested by-election.No Nash for Ontario NDP , Town Crier, July 8, 2008 Prue was first elected to public office as a city councillor in 1988, and then became mayor in 1993 of the former Borough of East York. In 1997, East York was amalgamated into the City of Toronto and Prue was elected to Toronto City Council, where he served until his election to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Prue was re-elected as MPP of Beaches-East York in 2003, and again in 2007. Prior to entering politics, Prue worked as counsel for the Minister of Employment and Immigration.
Date campaign announced: July 18, 2008 Date campaign officially launched: July 18, 2008 Date officially registered: August 27, 2008
Endorsements Former premier: (1) Howard Pawley (Premier of Manitoba, 1981–88) MPP: (1) Paul Miller (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek) Municipal politicians: () Maria Augimeri (Toronto Ward 9 Councillor), Sandra Bussin (Toronto Ward 32 Councillor, Speaker), Shelley Carroll (Toronto Ward 33 Councillor), Alex Cullen (Ottawa Ward 7 Councillor), Janet Davis (Toronto Ward 31 Councillor), Joe Mihevc (Toronto Ward 21 Councillor), Howard Moscoe (Toronto Ward 15 Councillor) Former MPs: (1) Alan Redway (York East, 1984–88; Don Valley East, 1988–93) Former MPPs: (6) Jenny Carter (Peterborough, 1990–95), Marilyn Churley (Riverdale, 1990–99; Toronto—Danforth, 1999–2005), Richard Johnston (Scarborough West, 1979–90), Floyd Laughren (Nickel Belt, 1971–98), Gary Malkowski (York East, 1990–95), David William Warner (Scarborough—Ellesmere, 1975–81, 1985–87, 1990–95) Other prominent individuals: (2) Darlene Jalbert (NDP candidate, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, 2008),http://www.prueforleader.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92&Itemid=87 Chris Watson, (former NDP federal secretary) Trade union and other organizations: (1) NDP Socialist Caucus Peter Tabuns
Peter Tabuns is the MPP for Toronto—Danforth. Tabuns served on Toronto City Council from 1990 to 1997 representing Ward 8. He was defeated in 1997 ironically by two NDP affiliated candidates (one of whom being former NDP leader Jack Layton who represented Tabuns' riding in the House of Commons) when Toronto City Council was amalgamated with the Metro Council. From 1999 to 2004 he served as the executive director of Greenpeace Canada. In the 2004 Canadian federal election he ran in the riding of Beaches—East York where he lost to Liberal MP Maria Minna. He received 32% of the vote. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in a by-election in 2006 in which he received 48% of the vote. He was re-elected in the 2007 election with 46% of the vote, Before entering politics, he was an insurance clerk.
High-profile supporters: Date campaign announced: October 26, 2008 Date campaign officially launched: October 26, 2008 Date officially registered: August 15, 2008
Endorsements Former party leader: (1) Ed Broadbent (1975–89, federal) MPs: (2) Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre), Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe) MPP: (1) Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale—High Park) Municipal politician: (1) Paula Fletcher (Toronto Ward 30 Councillor) Former MP: (1) Peggy Nash (Parkdale—High Park) Other prominent individuals: (4) Michele Landsberg,http://www.tabuns09.ca/node/722 Michael Lewis (former ONDP and federal NDP secretary), Jill Marzetti, (former Secretary, ONDP), Janet Solberg (former President, ONDP) Trade unions and other organizations: (2) Ontario New Democratic Youth, Toronto Steel Workers Council
Potential candidates who declined to run Peter Kormos, MPP for Niagara Centre, third-place finisher at the 1996 leadership convention.Taylor Parnaby Reports, CFRB-AM, June 14, 2008 Rosario Marchese, MPP for Trinity-Spadina, former Minister of Culture and Communications.Marchese considers running for Ontario NDP leader's job Olivia Chow, MP for Trinity—Spadina.Cowan, James, "Hampton expects several MPs could seek Ontario NDP leadership" , Canwest News Service, June 15, 2008 Brian Masse, MP for Windsor West. Leah Casselman, former president of OPSEU. Jodie Jenkins, a 2003 and 2007 provincial candidate from Belleville had announced his intention to run. Sid Ryan, president of CUPE Ontario, former NDP candidate. Charlie Angus, MP for Timmins-James Bay. David Christopherson, MP for Hamilton Centre. Marilyn Churley, former MPP and cabinet minister.Babbage, Maria, "Ontario NDP leadership race promises to be gruelling for candidates", Canadian Press, June 23, 2008 Cheri DiNovo, MPP for Parkdale—High Park. DiNovo is quoted saying as saying running for the leadership is "not me, babe" when asked about her intentions.Editorial, "Hampton's departure", Toronto Star, June 17, 2008, France Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt. She told Northern Life that she is not running for the position saying: “Though I am flattered by the calls I have received since Howard's announcement, I am a new politician. There is lots to learn as the member for Nickel Belt.”Bradley, Bill, "Gelinas declines to run to replace NDP leader" , Northern Life, June 16, 2008 Frances Lankin, former MPP and cabinet minister, runner-up at the 1996 leadership convention and, since 2001, president of the United Way for Greater Toronto. She is "not interested" according to the Star. Andre Marin, Ombudsman for Ontario. His spokesperson dismissed rumours of his candidacy as wild speculation, adding that he has never been a member of the NDP or had any association with it or any other provincial party, and he intends to serve out his term as ombudsman. In 2016 he ran for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in Ottawa Vanier. Tony Martin, MP for Sault Ste. Marie. David Miller, Mayor of Toronto and former NDP federal and provincial candidate, has also been mentioned as a possible candidate, although he has not been an NDP member since 2007. The Toronto Star states that Miller is "not interested." Peggy Nash, Former MP for Parkdale—High Park. Nash has returned to her former job at the Canadian Auto Workers after deciding against seeking the Ontario NDP leadership, telling the Toronto Star: "Many people have approached me about it. It certainly was something I considered, but the timing was never good. Other candidates had been at this for some time." She has also since accepted the NDP nomination in her former riding of Parkdale-High Park for 42nd Federal Election held on May 2, 2011, which she won.
Issues Peter Tabuns drew on his environmentalist roots and made his proposal for a "New Energy Economy" based on green principles the centrepiece of his campaign.
Michael Prue raised the idea of reviewing the Separate School System and possibly amalgamating it with the public school system. He also advocated a cities-centred economic policy and giving more power to municipalities. On party issues he advocated giving each riding association $10,000 during elections.
Gilles Bisson emphasized reforms to party fund raising in order to allow riding associations to keep more of the money they raised. In public policy he advocated targeted corporate tax cuts and an anti-crime platform.
Andrea Horwath advocated heavy investment in light rail. In party matters she emphasised a closer relationship to unions and the hiring of regional organisers.
Procedure