Sask. NDP leadership declines to endorse Regina candidate

A campaign that has been going for 15 months in Regina Walsh Acres is in limbo after a call from the New Democratic Party.

Barb Dedi, president of the NDP’s constituency association in that riding, said she got a phone call two weeks ago from the CEO of the party, telling her that Sandra Morin would not be getting the endorsement of the leadership and therefore could not run for the party in this fall’s provincial election.

“I was shocked. I just could not believe it,” said Dedi.

Dedi said there was no explanation given, just that the reasoning was confidential.

“My phone is ringing constantly from my constituents and they all want to know why and I have no answers for them, other than that it’s confidential and that is all we’ve been told,” explained Dedi.

She said the association has sent letters and email asking for answers but nothing has come.

Morin issued a statement on her Facebook page, saying she remained committed to representing the riding as the NDP candidate.

“The residents of Regina Walsh Acres deserve better than party politics — they deserve a champion that will be there for the community every day,” she said in the statement. “I will be that champion, standing with you and your family.

“I invite Mr. Ryan Meili (the NDP’s leader) to reach out to me directly and resolve the situation so that together we can make change a reality and put people first.”

When Morin won her nomination race in May 2019, beating out two others for the spot, Meili praised Morin for her community leadership.

“I am thrilled to welcome her to our growing slate of candidates for 2020,” Meili said in a news release at the time.

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Meili said he stands “firmly” behind the decision not to endorse Morin. He said it was based on information disclosed in the vetting process, but noted that information will remain confidential.

“However, the public assertion that the former candidate in Walsh Acres was removed without being given reasons for that removal is simply false,” Meili said in the statement. “The former candidate was informed of those reasons verbally on more than one occasion, and has also been provided with those well-founded reasons in writing.”

The leader added he and the party have a responsibility to put forward the best possible candidate to represent the NDP in Regina Walsh Acres.

The association has been working on Morin’s campaign for more than a year and Dedi said it has put hundreds of hours in and has signs and leaflets ready to go.

Dedi said the party has been trying to find someone else to run in Regina Walsh Acres but is having some trouble.

“After (other potential candidates) had been advised of what occurred, they are not running. They have refused to run,” said Dedi.

Dedi said they all believe the situation with Morin is against the party’s constitution.

Dedi said it’s very frustrating but she still believes in the party and will still work to have a New Democrat win that riding in the fall election. She said she hasn’t come across one person in the party in the riding who has said they won’t vote NDP because of this.

“But they want Sandra Morin, that is loud and clear. I have not had one call that does not want Sandra Morin,” explained Dedi.

Morin has worked as an MLA for the NDP previously, including as a cabinet minister under Lorne Calvert. Morin held office in Regina Walsh Acres from 2003 to 2011. Warren Steinley of the Saskatchewan Party won the seat in the previous two elections, including by 599 votes in 2016.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of the story, reflecting the fact Morin is continuing to campaign