Saskatoon-Meewasin MLA Ryan Meili is throwing his hat in the ring for the provincial NDP leadership race.
Meili announced his decision to run in a Facebook post Thursday morning.
“This leadership contest is our chance to develop the kind of healthy politics that works for Saskatchewan people,” he wrote.
“We’re inviting anyone inspired by the vision of a healthier society and interested in helping to make it a reality to join the conversation.”
Meili’s announcement comes just over two months after he won his seat in the legislature in a byelection, beating the Sask Party’s Brent Penner with 54 per cent of the vote.
He told 650 CKOM the post marks an informal announcement that he’s running. Meili said he plans to unveil a more complete platform, likely in the fall.
In the meantime, the MLA said he’ll be spending the coming months talking to people around the province to get a better sense of what their issues are.
This will be the third time Meili runs for the NDP leadership. The Saskatoon doctor previously lost to Cam Broten in the 2013 leadership race and Dwain Lingenfelter in 2009.
Asked why he felt a third crack at the party leadership would be successful, Meili pointed out it also took him three tries to get into medical school, before graduating and eventually running a thriving practice.
“That’s the approach I’ve taken and that’s the approach I’ll continue to take through this race, is: ‘do the work and continue to learn,’” he said.