In view of allegations that some 1100 memberships in the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party had been improperly obtained on two First Nations Reserves in the Meadow Lake Constituency, those membership are being cancelled, effective immediately, Provincial Secretary Deb McDonald announced today.

This action is in accordance with a decision reached Monday by the Leadership Planning Committee of the Party.  The constituency has approximately 115 regular members who will remain eligible to vote in the upcoming leadership convention, but the 1100 in question will not.

"It is important that this action be taken immediately, as ballot packages are shortly being sent to members," McDonald said.  "These cancellations must be entered into the system to ensure that they will not be in a position to vote on, or prior to, June 6."

Monday, the campaign of Leadership Candidate Dwain Lingenfelter took responsibility for these memberships, saying that mistakes were made by a campaign volunteer.  The LPC has been investigating the matter since allegations of irregularities surfaced late last week.

The Lingenfelter Campaign will not be refunded the money, approximately $10,000, it paid for these memberships.