Adrian Dix announces his resignation as leader of the BC NDP in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, September 18, 2013.Rafal Gerszak/The Globe and Mail
B.C New Democrats will pick their new leader on Sept. 28 after four days of voting, the party announced Saturday.
The winner of the race will succeed Adrian Dix, who led the party to unexpected defeat in the May, 2013, provincial election. The opposition party went into that race with notable polling leads that withered against an economy-focused BC Liberal campaign. Mr. Dix has since announced he will leave once the party picks his successor.
In a weekend meeting, the NDP provincial council confirmed the date of the vote and a leadership gathering in Vancouver where the winner will be announced.
Members will make their choices by telephone or online, voting on a preferential ballot.
It will be a one-member; one-vote choice, according to a party statement.
Only those who are party members before June 26 will be allowed to vote.
The spending limit for campaigns is $350,000 -- up from $175,000 in the 2011 race that ended with Mr. Dix's victory.
According to a party official speaking on background, the spending limit was raised to account for a longer race. In 2011, the race lasted only about four months.
The race has yet to see its first declared candidate. B.C MPs Nathan Cullen, Fin Donnelly, Jinny Sims and Peter Julian all openly considered leadership bids before ruling them out and recomitting to federal politics.
However several members of the party's provincial caucus are considering bids to lead the party, including Mike Farnworth who placed second in 2011.
The next provincial election is set, under legislation, for May, 2017.
Ian Bailey