The 2014 Alberta New Democratic Party leadership election was prompted by Brian Mason's announcement on April 29, 2014 that he was resigning as leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party after a decade in the position. For the first time, rather than selecting the leader through a delegated convention, all NDP members were eligible to vote. A weighted voting system was used in which ballots cast by members were weighted to at least 80 per cent of the total, and votes from trade unions and other affiliated organizations were weighted at a maximum of 20 per cent. To be nominated, a candidate had to obtain 50 signatures from party members and make a non-refundable $5,000 deposit. Individuals could not donate more than $15,000 and contributions in excess of $100 were publicly reported. Candidates could not accept donations from publicly traded corporations with more than 100 employees. Timeline April 29, 2014 - Brian Mason announces his resignation as Alberta NDP leader to take effect at the party's fall convention scheduled for October 18 and 19, 2014. May 27, 2014 - The party's provincial council announces leadership campaign rules, nomination fees and spending limits. June 2, 2014 - Nomination period officially opens. August 5, 2014 - Nomination period officially closes. October 18, 2014 - Leadership election. Declared candidates David Eggen Background MLA for Edmonton-Calder (2004-2008, 2012–present), served as executive director of Alberta Friends of Medicare (2008-2012). Has served as NDP critic for Agriculture and Food, Environment, K-12 Education, Sustainable Resource Development, and Tourism and Culture. Former teacher. Date candidacy declared: May 24, 2014 Date officially nominated: June 13, 2014 Supporters Support from caucus members: Support from federal caucus members: Support from former provincial caucus members: Other prominent supporters: Rupinder Kaur, Former Chief of Staff to the Alberta New Democrats; Shauna Mihalicz, Alberta NDP vice-president; Aileen Burke, 2014 Macleod Federal By-Election Candidate; Denny Holmwood, New Democratic Youth of Alberta Co-Chair 2008-2010, 2008 Strathcona NDP Candidate; Policies: Rod Loyola Background NDP candidate in Edmonton-Ellerslie (2012) receiving 16% of the vote and the NDP's nominee in that riding for the next election. He works as academic programs co-ordinator at the University of Alberta and also President of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA) at the university. Loyola, 40, is also the chair of Public Interest Alberta's Post-Secondary Education task force, a spoken-word poet and executive board member Friends of Medicare and the Knottwood Community League, and