1971 New Democratic Party leadership election

1971 New Democratic Party leadership election

April 21–24, 1971
  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

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.