Updated Site

Welcome to the new ryanmeili.ca

You'll notice a few changes. Despite my objections, the second hand prairie sweater has been replaced by a suit and tie. And along with the look the focus has changed.

This page was first established for the Saskatchewan NDP leadership race which ended June 6, 2009. During that campaign, Dwain Lingenfelter, Deb Higgins, Yens Pedersen and I spent several months meeting people all over the province. We listened to their concerns, debated the key issues between us, and engaged thousands in setting a new direction for the party. After an electrifying convention with two rounds of voting, Dwain was named leader with 55% of the vote (I finished with 45%, Yens and Deb having both exited after the first round).

The leadership was my first political campaign, and I promised it wouldn't be my last. I feel we have the opportunity to excite and inspire people once again, to do great things in this province once again. That's why I'm running to be the NDP candidate and eventual MLA for Saskatoon Sutherland.

The Saskatoon Sutherland consituency was held for 21 straight years by the NDP. In the last provincial election Joceline Schreimer of the Sask Party narrowly won the seat. It is my intention to do the work to take it back and build the party's support base in Sutherland so that it stays with the NDP for many elections to come.

The nomination convention date has yet to be set, but all indications are that it will be in late September, 2010. This gives me a few months to meet with members and sell memberships (only members in the Sutherland riding are allowed to vote). It will be a tight race, with three other fine candidates, Naveen Anwar, Rob Dobrohocszki, and Scott Stelmaschuk, already declared and perhaps more to come.

There is another challenge to the campaign. As part of my work with the College of Medicine's Making the Links program, I have a prior commitment to work in Mozambique, for 10 weeks, from May 5 to July 25. I will be working in a rural hospital and teaching students from the U of S about the practice of medicine in the developing world.

While I'm confident that August and September will be productive for reaching out to new members, especially the University students returning to the riding for a new school year, there is work to be done in the next couple of months and a committed campaign team ready to work over the summer.

If you are at all interested in helping with the campaign in the coming months, please get in touch with us via the contact form, or call the campaign phone at (306) 370-0809. There will be flyer drops, phoning bees and special events to be a part of throughout the summer and into the fall. Most importantly, if you live in Saskatoon Sutherland (see constituency map) make sure your membership is up to date. And if you know anyone who lives in the riding, please be bold and contact them about becoming a member. I envision a very lively and exciting nomination convention in September, one you won't want to miss.

Please stay tuned to this space for more blogs about the campaign and politics in Saskatchewan as well as updates from Africa.