1971 New Democratic Party leadership election|
|
|
|
|
JL
|
| Candidate
|
David Lewis
|
James Laxer
|
| Fourth ballot delegate count
|
1,046
(63.1%)
|
612
(36.9%)
|
| First ballot delegate count
|
661
(38.9%)
|
378
(22.3%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Candidate
|
John Paul Harney
|
Ed Broadbent
|
| Fourth ballot delegate count
|
Eliminated
|
Eliminated
|
| First ballot delegate count
|
299
(17.6%)
|
236
(13.9%)
|
|
|
From April 21 to April 24, 1971, the New Democratic Party held a leadership convention to choose a new federal leader. The convention was held while the Waffle faction was at the zenith of its popularity and power. David Lewis was elected as the party leader, and 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.