John Nilson

Canadian politician

John Nilson
Leader of the Opposition of Saskatchewan
In office
November 19, 2011 – March 9, 2013
Preceded byDwain Lingenfelter
Succeeded byCam Broten
Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
Interim
In office
November 19, 2011 – March 9, 2013
Preceded byDwain Lingenfelter
Succeeded byCam Broten
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Regina Lakeview
In office
June 21, 1995 – March 8, 2016
Preceded byLouise Simard
Succeeded byCarla Beck
Personal details
Born (1951-07-09) July 9, 1951 (age 72)[1]
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Political partyNew Democratic Party
OccupationLawyer

John Nilson is a retired Canadian politician in Saskatchewan. He was the member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the Regina Lakeview constituency from 1995 to 2016, representing the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party. A former lawyer with the Saskatchewan law firm Macpherson Leslie and Tyerman, he was first elected in the 1995 provincial election. He announced his retirement prior to the 2016 provincial election

Nilson was educated at Pacific Lutheran University, the University of Oslo, at St. Olaf College in Minnesota and the University of British Columbia. He was admitted to the British Columbia bar in 1978 and to the Saskatchewan bar in 1979.[2]

He was appointed as Minister of Justice and Attorney General on November 22, 1995, Minister of Crown Investments Corporation on September 30, 1999, Minister of Health on February 7, 2001, where he was Saskatchewan's longest serving health minister and then Minister of Environment on February 3, 2006.

In the wake of the NDP's loss in the 2011 election and the resignation of leader Dwain Lingenfelter, Nilson, who was re-elected, was declared interim leader of the party.[3] He was succeeded by Cam Broten in the leadership election on March 9, 2013.[4]

Nilson announced his retirement in the fall of 2015, and continued to sit as an MLA until the Assembly was dissolved for the 2016 general election.[5]

Electoral history

2011 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  NDP John Nilson 3,860 48.38 +0.76
Saskatchewan Bob Hawkins 3,715 46.56 +14.16
Green Mike Wright 404 5.06 +0.70
Total 100.00
2007 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  NDP John Nilson 4,275 47.62 -9,29
Saskatchewan Raynelle Wilson 2,909 32.40 +12,08
Liberal Matt Sirois 1,400 15.59 -5,73
Green Robert Cosbey 392 4.36 +2.98
Total 8,976 100.00
2003 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  NDP John Nilson 4,988 56.91 +7.60
Liberal Dave Brundige 1,875 21.39 -4.08
Saskatchewan Michelle Hunter 1,781 20.32 -0.09
Green Brian Rands 121 1.38 –
Total 8,976 100.00
1999 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  NDP John Nilson 4,207 49.31 -5.38
Liberal Karen Pedersen 2.173 25.47 -12.71
Saskatchewan Randall Edge 1,741 20.41 –
Independent Wayne Gilmer 295 3.46 –
Progressive Conservative Brad Johnson 116 1.36 -5.77
Total 8,976 100.00
1995 Saskatchewan general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  NDP John Nilson 4,807 54.69 –
Liberal Karen Pedersen 3.356 38.18 –
Progressive Conservative Brad Johnson 627 7.13 –
Total 8,976 100.00

References

  1. ^ Quiring, Brett (2004). Saskatchewan politicians: lives past and present. Canadian Plains Research Center Press. p. 179. ISBN 0889771650. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  2. ^ "Mr. John Nilson". Members of the Legislative Assembly. Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Archived from the original on 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  3. ^ "John Nilson, veteran MLA, chosen interim Sask. NDP leader". CBC News. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Cam Broten elected as new leader of Saskatchewan NDP" Archived 2013-05-15 at the Wayback Machine. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, March 9, 2013.
  5. ^ "Saskatchewan Legislature farewells retiring MLAs," Regina Leader-Post, November 26, 2015.

External links

  • Saskatchewan New Democrats: Regina Lakeview
  • v
  • t
  • e
Leaders of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party and its antecedents
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1932–67)Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (1967–present)
Leadership elections