Ryan Meili announcing his resignation to media on Feb. 18, 2022 at his Saskatoon constituency office. (650 CKOM)

By CKOM

major political shakeup

Meili to resign as NDP Leader: media report

Feb 18, 2022 | 7:34 AM

Editor’s note: This story was ammended at 5:38p.m. Friday to include comments from Meili’s press conference.

Ryan Meili has only one regret after serving almost four years as leader of the Saskatchewan NDP: His party wasn’t better able to urge the provincial government to do more about the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We weren’t able to force this government to take COVID more seriously, to act to protect people’s lives, to protect our health system and protect people’s jobs,” Meili told a crowd of reporters packed inside his Saskatoon constituency office on Friday.

His resignation comes just days after the election of the Saskatchewan Party’s Jim Lemaigre in a byelection in the northern riding of Athabasca. Previously, the NDP had held the riding for more than two decades.

Meili told reporters he has no regrets about speaking up for public health action during the pandemic and demanding the truth from Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party government.

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Commenting that the province is on the “brink of a new phase” — one he said he is excited for — Meili said he wants to help, not hinder, the party in finding its next leader.

He reported having spoken with Saskatchewan NDP president Sheila Whelan to request she speak with the party’s executive and call for a leadership race.

“As someone who’s become so associated with masks, with mandates, with calling for the tough things that needed to be done, I know it’s going to be very difficult to no longer be associated with that at a time where people are looking for something new,” Meili said.

There won’t be an interim leader for the party, Meili said. He plans to remain leader until a new one is chosen, when he will step aside.

Meili said he has concerns about polarization in the province, stating the Saskatchewan Party is trending towards a U.S. Republican Trump-style of leadership.

Repeatedly saying Moe has lied to Saskatchewan people throughout the pandemic — about the state of COVID in the province, the effectiveness of vaccines and other concerns — Meili noted the importance of his stepping aside to ensure his own baggage does not impede the progress of the NDP.

Polling in recent months, Meili noted, has shown that a “steady, sensible, clear opposition is really making gains.” He said a new voice is needed to articulate the vision for the province moving beyond COVID-19.

“What did we learn from COVID-19 and how do we plan a future that will really make a difference in people’s lives?” he asked.

Meili called it “a real opportunity for Saskatchewan people to see during a time where Scott Moe is straight-up lying.”

Meili said he hopes to continue representing Saskatoon Meewasin as its MLA, and to be there “for the assist, if not for the goal” of seeing his party elected to government.

To his successor, Meili offered the advice to tell the truth and be direct and honest with Saskatchewan people.

“It may not seem the most successful thing to do politically, but people respect integrity, they respect when you’re genuine and sincere, and I believe that’s at the heart of who the New Democrats are,” Meili said.

Reaction from a former NDP MLA

Former NDP MLA Nicole Rancourt represented Prince Albert-Northcote for one term, losing to the Sask Party’s Alana Ross in the last election.

Reacting to Meili’s announcement Friday, Rancourt said she was surprised but added going forward, she thought it may also be the best decision for the direction of the party.

Looking back on the last provincial election in 2020, Rancourt explained the party was very disappointed with the results, noting the loss of seats in Saskatoon Riversdale as well as her own.

“I think the Athabasca election was a real shocker for a lot of us New Democrats, to have lost that seat as well,” she said.

While thanking Meili for his hard work and sacrifices, Rancourt said she’s also looking forward to a rebranding of the party.

“You see that a lot of voters that are 40 years and younger, are not necessarily getting to the polls and there’s some reason why they are not feeling motivated to get to the polls and I feel that our next leader needs to do a lot of work at addressing that and getting people to feel that their vote does matter,” she said.

— with files from paNOW Staff