Cam Broten

Cam Broten
Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
In office March 9, 2013 – April 23, 2016
Preceded by	John Nilson
Succeeded by	Trent Wotherspoon
MLA for Saskatoon Massey Place
In office November 7, 2007 – April 4, 2016
Preceded by	Eric Cline
Succeeded by	Riding abolished
Personal details
Born	Cameron Paul Broten (1978-04-29) April 29, 1978 Regina, Saskatchewan
Political party	NDP
Spouse(s)	Ruth Eliason
Relations	Hans Broten (grandfather)
Children	5
Residence	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Alma mater	Simon Fraser University (M.A.) University of Saskatchewan (B.A.)
Occupation	Politician
Religion	Lutheran

Cameron Paul "Cam" Broten (born April 29, 1978) is a Canadian politician. He represented the constituency of Saskatoon Massey Place in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 2007 to 2016. He was selected as the leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party in the 2013 leadership election on March 9, 2013.^[1] Broten announced his resignation as leader on April 11, 2016, several days after losing the seat he contested in the Saskatchewan general election.^[2] An interim leader will be chosen on April 23rd.^[3]

Early life and background

Broten was born in Regina, Saskatchewan and spent his early years in Northern Saskatchewan in La Loche, Green Lake, Meadow Lake and La Ronge before his family settled in Saskatoon where he attended Marion M. Graham Collegiate. His grandfather, Hans Broten, served in the Legislative Assembly in the 1960s under Tommy Douglas and Woodrow Lloyd.

He holds a bachelor's degree in international studies from the University of Saskatchewan and a master’s degree in political science from Simon Fraser University. During his time at Simon Fraser University, he served as a facilitator with the British Columbia Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform.

He worked as a policy analyst with the provincial government, in the Department of Culture, Youth and Recreation, and later as a health policy manager with the Saskatchewan Medical Association. He was also an elected board member with the Saskatoon Co-op.

Political career

Broten was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan in the 2007 provincial election, and was re-elected in the 2011 provincial election.

On September 5, 2012, Broten announced his intention to run for the leadership of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party.^[4] He was one of four candidates, alongside doctor Ryan Meili, MLA Trent Wotherspoon, who Broten would appoint to be his deputy leader immediately after the leadership election,^[5] and Erin Weir although Weir withdrew before the vote.^[6] Broten won the leadership on the second ballot.^[1]

His popularity and support among the party grew quickly, with Broten receiving strong endorsements in two party constitutionally-required leadership review votes since his election with 98.7 per cent of delegates' votes on a secret ballot at the party's convention on May 31, 2014 during the party's convention in Moose Jaw^[7] and on May 23, 2015 he received 98 per cent of delegates' votes on a secret ballot during the party's convention in Regina.^[8]

Cam Broten, Ruth Eliason and their daughters in Fall 2014

Broten has been known to focus on seniors care,^[9] better access and shorter wait times for health care,^[10] the elimination of high-cost ambulance fees^[11] and a lower cost of living for families in the province.^[12] Broten has also proposed caps on classrooms sizes and an increase in the number of educational assistants^[13] and pushed for economic reforms including a new procurement policy,^[14] and moving away from P3 deals, which he says costs more and ships benefits to other jurisdictions.^[15] Broten supports responsible resource development in Saskatchewan.^[16]

Broten has also put a spotlight on the governing Saskatchewan Party's conversion to John Black Lean.^[17][18][19]

In his time as opposition leader, Broten has been seen as productive, with moves like convincing the majority government to support his landmark private member's bill to create an asbestos registry for the province^[20] - known as Howard's Law - as well as measures to support local business^[21] and convincing the government to change its long-standing policy on Canada's Senate. Broten has consistently supported abolishment of Canada's upper chamber.^[22]

2016 election

The NDP under Broten was defeated in the 2016 provincial election in which Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party was elected to a third successive majority government. The NDP under Broten won 10 seats, a gain of one seat from the previous election, to the Saskatchewan Party's 51 seats.^[23]

His riding of Saskatoon Massey Place having been abolished, Broten ran in Saskatoon Westview and lost to Saskatchewan Party candidate David Buckingham by 232 votes.^[24][25]

Broten resigned as party leader on April 11, 2016.^[2]

Personal life

On August 1, 2004 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Broten married Ruth Megan Eliason, a music therapist with Palliative Care Services in the Saskatoon Health Region who was raised on a family farm in the Stewart Valley area near Swift Current. His wife decided to keep her maiden name.^[26] They live in Saskatoon with their four daughters, Ingrid Louise (born June 16, 2010), Clara Evangeline (born April 5, 2012), Gudrun Colleen Anne (born July 17, 2014) and Aasta (born August 3, 2016).^[27] Their first child, a son named Magnus Paul, was born preterm on April 28, 2009 and died that same day.^[28][29]

References

External links

• Opposition Caucus Website

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