REGINA – A long-time stalwart of the Saskatchewan NDP is calling it quits. John Nilson announced Friday he will retire when the next provincial election rolls around.
Nilson, 63, was first elected to the legislature in 1995 in Regina Lakeview. His first cabinet posting was as justice minister in 1995 and intervened on Saskatchewan’s behalf in the Quebec secession case before the Supreme Court of Canada.
In 1999, he was appointed the minster of crown investments and 2001 was named the minister of health, eventually becoming the longest serving health minister in Saskatchewan’s history.
During his time as health minister, the province banned smoking in public places and the public display of cigarettes in stores.
In 2011, he was named the interim leader of the party after Dwain Lingenfelter stepped down after the party suffered one of its worst showings in an election. He held the position until 2013 when Can Broten was elected leader of the Saskatchewan NDP.
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Prior to entering politics, Nilson was a lawyer with Macpherson Leslie and Tyerman.
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