Duane Nicol

Duane Nicol (born May 26, 1978 in Selkirk, Manitoba) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He has campaigned for the Canadian House of Commons on two occasions, and is currently a city councillor in Selkirk.

Nicol grew up in a low-income family in Selkirk. He was educated at the University of Manitoba, receiving a degree in political science in 2003. He contested the NDP nomination in Selkirk--Interlake for the federal election of 2000, but lost. Subsequently, he ran as a candidate of the New Democratic Party in the riding of Winnipeg South, finishing third against Liberal Reg Alcock.

In 2001, provincial Health Minister Dave Chomiak appointed him to the Interlake Regional Health Authority, where he sat as chair of the planning committee. He was elected to the Selkirk City Council in 2002, the youngest person ever to hold such a position. Nicol worked for New Democrats Peter Bjornson and Greg Dewar in the Manitoba election of 2003, and also assisted Ontario MPP Marilyn Churley in that province's 2003 election. While he voted against the New Policy Initiative in 2001, he believes that the NDP should move further to the left in policy matters.

In the 2004 federal election, Nicol defeated Chris Pawley (son of former Premier Howard Pawley) for the NDP nomination in Selkirk--Interlake. Some regarded this riding as winnable for the NDP, but Nicol finished in second place, behind James Bezan of the Conservatives. He received 10,516 votes, 26.5% of the total.