John Nilson

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

John Nilson
Leader of the Opposition of Saskatchewan
In office November 19, 2011 – March 9, 2013
Premier	Brad Wall
Preceded by	Dwain Lingenfelter
Succeeded by	Cam Broten
Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party Interim
In office November 19, 2011 – March 9, 2013
Preceded by	Dwain Lingenfelter
Succeeded by	Cam Broten
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Regina Lakeview
In office June 21, 1995 – April 4, 2016
Preceded by	Louise Simard
Succeeded by	Carla Beck
Personal details
Born	(1951-07-09) July 9, 1951[1] Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Political party	New Democratic Party
Occupation	Lawyer

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, but 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". 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