NDP Leadership Race: Can a New Leader Revitalize the Party?
Good morning. The New Democratic Party (NDP) is at a critical juncture, hoping to reverse years of decline as it selects a new leader this weekend. This comes amidst broader political shifts and challenges. Here’s a comprehensive look at the race, the candidates, and what’s at stake.
A History of Setbacks
The 2023 federal election was a disappointing one for the NDP. Securing only 6.3 per cent of the popular vote – the worst result since its founding in 1961 – the party was reduced to seven seats in the House of Commons, a record low. This loss also meant the NDP lost official party status (requiring 12 MPs). The subsequent resignation of former leader Jagmeet Singh, after failing to win his B.C. riding, further compounded the party’s difficulties.
Recent developments haven’t been encouraging either. The departure of Nunavut MP Lori Idlout to the Liberal party has brought Prime Minister Mark Carney closer to a majority government. In Quebec, Alexandre Boulerice, the party’s sole MP east of Manitoba, is considering a move to provincial politics. A recent Angus Reid poll revealed that a quarter of recent NDP voters believe the party is irrelevant, with nearly 40 per cent feeling its best days are behind it.
The Leadership Contenders
New Democrats are hoping to change this narrative on Sunday, when the party announces its next leader at a convention in Winnipeg. However, a significant portion of recent NDP voters – 44 per cent – don’t even recognize the names of the five candidates. Let’s take a closer look at who’s vying for the leadership:
Avi Lewis
CV: A prominent climate activist and former TV host, Lewis co-authored the Leap Manifesto, advocating for a significant shift to the left for the NDP. He has raised over $1.2 million in campaign funds, despite not currently holding a seat in Parliament. He comes from a politically active family, with a grandfather, father, and mother all having held prominent positions in Canadian politics.
Key Policies: Lewis champions a Green New Deal, aiming to end new oil production and invest two per cent of Canada’s GDP in combating climate change. He also proposes government-run grocery stores and the construction of a million public homes to address affordability concerns.
Heather McPherson
CV: The only leadership candidate currently holding a seat in the House of Commons, representing Edmonton Strathcona since 2019. She has served in key roles within the NDP caucus, including deputy house leader and foreign affairs critic. Prior to politics, she worked in international development.
Key Policies: McPherson focuses on building affordable housing through a federal Crown corporation, creating a bill of rights for renters, and banning corporate ownership of single-family homes. She emphasizes her electoral success and aims to broaden the NDP’s appeal.
Rob Ashton
CV: A long-time dockworker in Vancouver and the national president of the International Longshore Workers Union Canada since 2016. This marks his first foray into electoral politics.
Key Policies: Ashton advocates for tripling the amount of public, non-profit, and co-op housing in Canada, building dedicated starter homes for first-time buyers, a national jobs guarantee, and mandatory worker representation on corporate boards.
Tanille Johnston
CV: A social worker and city councillor in Campbell River, Vancouver Island. She is a member of the We Wai Kai First Nation and the director of programs at the First Nations Health Authority in B.C. At 38, she is the youngest candidate in the race.
Key Policies: Johnston proposes a guaranteed liveable basic income, tuition-free postsecondary education, and an end to fossil fuel subsidies. She also supports electoral reform in favour of proportional representation.
Tony McQuail
CV: An organic farmer in southern Ontario and a former Board of Education trustee. He has run in multiple federal and provincial elections for the NDP without success.
Key Policies: McQuail supports a universal basic income, communal and sustainable housing arrangements, a wealth tax, electoral reform, environmental regeneration, and non-profit ride-sharing programs for rural Canadians.
Beyond the Leadership Race: Other News
- Healthcare Access: Yellowknife remains the primary access point for dental services in the Northwest Territories, forcing many Indigenous communities to travel vast distances for care. Read more about the challenges here.
- Environmental Policy: Ottawa and Alberta have reached an agreement to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production, potentially paving the way for a new pipeline to the West Coast.
- International Relations: The U.S. summit between President Trump and China, previously delayed, is back on schedule for mid-May.
- Tech Regulation: A California jury has ordered Meta and YouTube to pay millions in damages for designing products deliberately addictive to young users.
- Estate Dispute: Edward Rogers is embroiled in a legal battle over his mother’s multibillion-dollar estate.
- Arts & Culture: Celine Dion is returning to Paris for concerts, and several Canadian productions have received nominations for the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards.
