Ryan Meili

Ryan Meili
Name	Ryan Meili
Birth date	1975
Birth place	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Physician, Politician, Author
Party	Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
Office	Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party (2018–2022)
Alma mater	University of Saskatchewan, University of Calgary

Ryan Meili is a Canadian physician, public health advocate, author, and politician from Saskatchewan. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan and led the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party. Meili is recognized for his work on primary care, social determinants of health, Indigenous health, and progressive policy reform.

Early life and education

Meili was born in Saskatoon and raised in Saskatchewan. He completed undergraduate studies at the University of Saskatchewan and earned a medical degree from the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine. During training he engaged with organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and community initiatives in Regina and Prince Albert. His early influences included public figures and institutions like Tommy Douglas, the New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan, C.C.F. (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation), and advocacy groups in Winnipeg and Vancouver.

Medical career

Meili practiced family medicine and worked in primary care settings in Saskatoon and northern communities including La Ronge. He was affiliated with clinics connected to the Saskatchewan Health Authority and collaborated with organizations like the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Canadian Medical Association. His public health work intersected with initiatives by Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and provincial programs in Alberta and Manitoba. Meili contributed to research and publications alongside academics from the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and the University of British Columbia on topics relating to rural health, community-based care, and health equity. He engaged with Indigenous health leaders from communities represented by groups such as the Assembly of First Nations and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.

Political career

Meili entered partisan politics as a member of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party and ran in provincial elections against candidates from the Saskatchewan Party, including leaders associated with figures like Brad Wall and Scott Moe. He contested the leadership of the Saskatchewan NDP in contests that involved competitors tied to organizations such as the Canadian Labour Congress and municipal politicians from Regina and Saskatoon. As MLA, he served in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan representing a constituency in Saskatoon and took part in legislative debates on budgets introduced by ministers from the Saskatchewan Finance Ministry and policy proposals cross-referenced with federal initiatives from the Government of Canada under prime ministers including Justin Trudeau and predecessors like Stephen Harper.

Policy positions and platform

Meili advocated for health-focused policies including a single-payer vision aligned with ideas discussed by the Canadian Medical Association and public health experts at institutions like the Canadian Public Health Association. His platform emphasized social determinants identified by entities such as the World Health Organization, with proposals touching on affordable housing initiatives in partnership models reminiscent of programs in Ontario and British Columbia. He supported labour rights resonant with positions of the Canadian Labour Congress and municipal labour councils in Saskatoon and Regina, and climate policy consistent with recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and federal frameworks like the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. On Indigenous reconciliation, his approach referenced reports by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and calls to action endorsed by the Assembly of First Nations and provincial Indigenous leadership. Economic and fiscal positions compared to analyses from think tanks such as the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Fraser Institute critiques, and modelling from academics at the University of Calgary and Queen's University.

Leadership of the Saskatchewan NDP

Meili was elected leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party and led the party through provincial campaigns against the Saskatchewan Party governments of premiers including Brad Wall and Scott Moe. His leadership involved coordination with NDP organizations linked to the New Democratic Party federally, engagement with labour partners like the Canadian Labour Congress and Unifor, and electoral strategies interacting with municipal officials from Regina City Council and Saskatoon City Council. During his tenure he debated provincial policy with ministers from ministries such as the Ministry of Health (Saskatchewan), Ministry of Education (Saskatchewan), and Ministry of Social Services (Saskatchewan), and responded to reports by bodies like the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Auditor General of Saskatchewan.

Personal life and advocacy

Outside elected office, Meili authored works on health and social policy that engaged audiences at events organized by institutions including the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and national venues like the Canadian Public Health Association conferences. He collaborated with charities and NGOs such as Saskatoon Health Region Foundation, Saskatoon Food Bank, and national groups like Kids Help Phone and Canadian Red Cross. Meili's advocacy intersected with Indigenous organizations including the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and community health partners associated with Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority. He has been involved in public dialogues with media outlets including CBC Television, Global Television Network, The Globe and Mail, National Post, and provincial newspapers like the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

Electoral record

Meili contested provincial elections in constituencies in Saskatoon, facing opponents from the Saskatchewan Party, Liberal Party of Saskatchewan, and Green Party of Saskatchewan. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan and served as leader of the opposition caucus, participating in sittings at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building and in committee work connected to provincial ministries and Crown corporations such as SaskPower and SaskTel.

Category:1975 births Category:Canadian physicians Category:Saskatchewan New Democratic Party politicians