# Deb Higgins

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Canadian politician

The Honourable Deb Higgins ECS Mayor of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan In office 2012–2016 Preceded by Glenn Hagel Succeeded by Fraser Tolmie Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan In office September 16, 1999 – October 10, 2011 Preceded by Lorne Calvert Succeeded by Greg Lawrence Constituency Moose Jaw Wakamow Personal details Born 1954 (age 71–72) Party New Democratic Party Occupation Labour organizer

**Debra Elaine Higgins** is a [Canadian](/source/Canadians) [politician](/source/Politician).[1] She was a member of the [Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan](/source/Legislative_Assembly_of_Saskatchewan) for the constituency of [Moose Jaw Wakamow](/source/Moose_Jaw_Wakamow) from 1999 to 2011 and served as the mayor of [Moose Jaw](/source/Moose_Jaw), [Saskatchewan](/source/Saskatchewan) from 2012 to 2016.

## Political career

Higgins got her start in politics when she became involved with the [United Food and Commercial Workers](/source/United_Food_and_Commercial_Workers) union in 1982 while working at a Safeway grocery store. She later served as the President of the UFCW Manitoba Provincial Council from 1993 to 1999, during which period she also served as a table officer for the Moose Jaw & District Labour Council.[2]

### NDP MLA

Higgins was first elected to the provincial legislature as a member of the [New Democratic Party](/source/Saskatchewan_New_Democratic_Party) in the [1999 election](/source/1999_Saskatchewan_general_election), and she was re-elected in the [2003](/source/2003_Saskatchewan_general_election) and [2007](/source/2007_Saskatchewan_general_election) elections. She served in the cabinet of Premier [Lorne Calvert](/source/Lorne_Calvert), first as the Minister of Labour and later as the Minister of Learning.[3] After the defeat of the NDP government in the 2007 election, Higgins has served as the NDP critic for municipal affairs, liquor and gaming, and women's issues.[3]

In 2008 Calvert retired, triggering the [2009 NDP leadership race](/source/2009_Saskatchewan_New_Democratic_Party_leadership_election). On January 30, 2009, Higgins announced her bid to succeed Calvert at the party's June 2009 leadership convention. Higgins ran on the theme of party renewal and poverty reduction.[2] She was joined in the race by former Saskatchewan NDP President [Yens Pedersen](/source/Yens_Pedersen), former Deputy Premier [Dwain Lingenfelter](/source/Dwain_Lingenfelter), and Saskatoon doctor [Ryan Meili](/source/Ryan_Meili). Higgins secured 14% of votes on the first ballot and was eliminated; although both Higgins and Pedersen, who withdrew after the first ballot, endorsed Meili ahead of the second ballot, Lingenfelter was elected leader.[4] After the race, Lingenfelter named Higgins Deputy Leader.[5]

Higgins ran in the [2011 election](/source/2011_Saskatchewan_general_election), but she lost her seat to rookie [Saskatchewan Party](/source/Saskatchewan_Party) candidate [Greg Lawrence](/source/Greg_Lawrence) in an election that saw the NDP reduced to an historic low of 9 seats in the legislature.[6][7] Lingenfelter also lost his seat in the election and resigned as leader, triggering another [leadership race](/source/2013_Saskatchewan_New_Democratic_Party_leadership_election). Higgins decided not to run again for the leadership, advocating instead for younger members to step into contention for the role. Higgins chaired the leadership election, which resulted in [Cam Broten](/source/Cam_Broten) being elected.[8]

### Mayor of Moose Jaw

In September 2012, Higgins announced she would be entering municipal politics and running to become the next mayor of Moose Jaw.[9] [On October 23, 2012](/source/2012_Saskatchewan_municipal_elections), Higgins was elected mayor, defeating [Fraser Tolmie](/source/Fraser_Tolmie) in a tight race and becoming the first female mayor in Moose Jaw's history.[10][11]

Higgins ran for reelection in 2016. She was again running against Tolmie, along with three other candidates in a crowded field. The ballot also included a referendum on funding for replacing local water and sewer mains, which led to a high turnout. Higgins was unseated by Tolmie, who secured 53.5% of the vote.[12]

## Electoral record

2016 Moose Jaw mayoral election Candidate Votes % Fraser Tolmie 5,949 53.5 Deb Higgins 3,469 31.2 3 other candidates 1,705 15.3 Total 11,123 100.00

2012 Moose Jaw mayoral election Candidate Votes % Deb Higgins 5,239 53 Fraser Tolmie 4,645 47 Total 9,884 100.00

2011 Saskatchewan general election: Moose Jaw Wakamow Party Candidate Votes % ±% Saskatchewan Greg Lawrence 3,064 49.10 +12.40 New Democratic Deb Higgins 2,863 45.88 -6.45 Progressive Conservative Tom Steen 209 3.35 +0.51 Green Deanna Robilliard 104 1.67 -0.59 Total 6,240 100.00

2007 Saskatchewan general election: Moose Jaw Wakamow Party Candidate Votes % ±% New Democratic Deb Higgins 3,887 52.33 -10.27 Saskatchewan Gwen Beitel 2,726 36.70 +6.37 Liberal Sharice Billett Niedermayer 436 5.87 -0.24 Progressive Conservative Tom Steen 211 2.84 - Green Larissa Shasko 168 2.26 +1.30 Total 7,428 100.00

2003 Saskatchewan general election: Moose Jaw Wakamow Party Candidate Votes % ±% New Democratic Deb Higgins 4,394 62.60 +8.68 Saskatchewan Gwen Beitel 2,129 30.33 -2.46 Liberal Robert Cosman 429 6.11 -5.46 New Green Marcela Gall 67 0.96 * Total 7,019 100.00

1999 Saskatchewan general election: Moose Jaw Wakamow Party Candidate Votes % ±% New Democratic Deb Higgins 3,111 53.92 -9.03 Saskatchewan Doris Dunphy 1,892 32.79 * Liberal Marlin Belt 668 11.57 -14.54 Progressive Conservative Vanessa Slater 99 1.72 -9.22 Total 5,770 100.00

## See also

- [List of mayors of Moose Jaw](/source/List_of_mayors_of_Moose_Jaw)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Members of the Legislative Assembly"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131219114059/http://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/members_of_the_legislative_assembly.pdf) (PDF). p. 16. Archived from [the original](http://www.saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/pdf/members_of_the_legislative_assembly.pdf) (PDF) on December 19, 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) ["Deb Higgins"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120428151154/http://saskndp.ca/constituencies/moose-jaw-wakamow). *[Saskatchewan New Democratic Party](/source/Saskatchewan_New_Democratic_Party)*. Archived from [the original](http://saskndp.ca/constituencies/moose-jaw-wakamow) on 2012-04-28.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_3-1) ["Higgins runs for NDP leadership"](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/higgins-runs-for-ndp-leadership-1.842091). [CBC News](/source/CBC_News). 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2016-03-22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Saskatchewan New Democrats choose Dwain Lingenfelter as leader | CBC News"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-new-democrats-choose-dwain-lingenfelter-as-leader-1.800567). *CBC*. 2009-06-06. Retrieved 2020-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Sask NDP Start To Rebuild"](https://www.discovermoosejaw.com/local/sask-ndp-start-to-rebuild). *Discover Moose Jaw*. 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2020-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["NDP Optimistic After Humbling Defeat"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201129030536/https://www.discovermoosejaw.com/local/ndp-optimistic-after-humbling-defeat). *DiscoverMooseJaw*. 2011-11-08. Archived from [the original](https://www.discovermoosejaw.com/local/ndp-optimistic-after-humbling-defeat) on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2020-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Graham, Jennifer (2011-11-07). ["Saskatchewan NDP Leader Dwain Lingenfelter crushed by Wall"](https://globalnews.ca/news/174986/saskatchewan-ndp-leader-dwain-lingenfelter-crushed-by-wall-3/). *Global News*. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2020-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["1st candidate declares in Sask. NDP leadership race | CBC News"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/1st-candidate-declares-in-sask-ndp-leadership-race-1.1135051). *CBC*. 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2020-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Deb Higgins enters Moose Jaw mayoral race"](https://www.ctvnews.ca/regina/article/deb-higgins-enters-moose-jaw-mayoral-race/). *[CTV News](/source/CTV_News)*. 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2016-03-22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-higgins-mayor_10-0)** ["Higgins elected first female mayor"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140301082635/http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/Local/News/2012-10-25/article-3106913/Higgins-elected-first-female-mayor/1). [Moose Jaw Times-Herald](/source/Moose_Jaw_Times-Herald). 2012. Archived from [the original](http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/Local/News/2012-10-25/article-3106913/Higgins-elected-first-female-mayor/1) on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Deb Higgins new mayor of Moose Jaw"](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/deb-higgins-new-mayor-of-moose-jaw-1.1224177). [CBC News](/source/CBC_News). 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2016-03-22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Robinson, Ashley (2016-10-27). ["Busy night in southern Saskatchewan as three cities vote in new mayors"](https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/busy-night-in-southern-sask-as-three-cities-vote-in-new-mayors). *LeaderPost*. Retrieved 2020-11-20.

## External links

- [Deb Higgins](https://web.archive.org/web/20090413053224/http://debhiggins.ca/)

v t e Cabinet of Premier of Saskatchewan Lorne Calvert (2001–2007) Lorne Calvert Graham Addley Pat Atkinson Chris Axworthy Joan Beatty Buckley Belanger Lon Borgerson Eric Cline Joanne Crofford David Forbes Keith Goulet Glenn Hagel Doreen Hamilton Ron Harper Deb Higgins Judy Junor Eldon Lautermilch Pat Lorje Janice MacKinnon Warren McCall Jim Melenchuk Sandra Morin John Nilson Ron Osika Peter Prebble Frank Quennell Clay Serby Maynard Sonntag Len Taylor Andrew Thomson Kim Trew Harry Van Mulligen Mark Wartman Kevin Yates

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Deb Higgins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deb_Higgins) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deb_Higgins?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.