About the SWNDP

So what is the SWNDP riding association? Let's start by going over what it stands for.

SW is for Saskatoon Wanuskewin, which a federal electoral riding in Saskatchewan, Canada. It covers the North-West area of Saskatoon, including the downtown, and goes up into the surrounding North-West rural areas as far north as the Duck Lake region and as far west as Ruddell.

NDP is for the New Democratic Party of Canada, a federal political party in our great country. We believe in equality for all, strong social programs, a government founded on social justice and environmental conservation. Information on our party can be found at ndp.ca. If you're interested in some of our party's history, check out our provincial wing's website.

Finally, a riding association is the representation of a political party on the grassroots, local level. We fundraise, organize events and overall build a community party-presence in the riding. The riding association is built up of NDP members; anyone who is over the age of 13 and who believes in the party's platform can become a member. Our ultimate goal is to have our local candidate elected as a Member of Parliament. The R.A. conducts a candidate search before every election to determine who is willing to be nominated at our nomination meeting. The official candidate is subsequently chosen by our membership.

Executive

Between AGMs, the riding association is run by the executive. Its members are chosen by the membership at each AGM. The executive usually meets monthly and ensures that the finances are in order, goals are being met, the SWNDP is ready for an election, and it plans upcoming events. It makes a New Democrat presence on the local level. Essentially, everything that happens with the riding association is done by the exective. Communication is imperative, and the executive is often the link between the local membership and the federal party.

The table officers are the president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary. There is no limit to the number of members-at-large.

What the riding association has been doing lately

Election Planning Committee (EPC)

The EPC's job is to work with the candidate and campaign manager to successfully conduct a pre-election campaign and ensure that a plan and structure is in place so that the official campaign can be launched as soon as the writs are dropped.