Jennifer McKenzie only candidate for NDP leadership when deadline passes

Only one person, Jennifer McKenzie, met the deadline and criteria for seeking the leadership of the New Brunswick New Democratic Party, but the NDP would not confirm Tuesday that she'll be the leader.

"She's the one who's met the criteria so far," said NDP spokesperson Andrew MacLean.

The party has to follow some internal clerical processes before any announcement can bemade, he said.

McKenzie wouldn't confirm her status either.

Instead, an emailfrom theparty on Tuesday announced a new conference this week to discuss"the future of our Party and its new leader in anticipation of next year's provincial election."

People interested in the leadership had to submit certain documents, including a form signed by 100 members of the NDP.

Interim leader Rosaire L'Italien saidhe was not privy to the number of people who might havemade the deadline for nominations to the party's top post,which was Friday at 4 p.m.

The party executive meets Wednesday night, he said.

"Thursday morning at the Fredericton Inn during the press conference we will be able to answer all the questions, but for now, we do not know."

Promising to bring the NDPback to its roots, McKenzie announced in April that she would run for the leadership, a position held by DominicCardyuntil his resignation in January.

McKenzie used to live in Ottawa, where she was a four-term chair of theOttawa-CarletonDistrict School Board.

Now based inSt. Martins, sheran for the federal NDP inFundyRoyal in 2015.

The NDP news conference is set for Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Fredericton Inn.

The leadership vote was scheduled earlier forOct. 27.