The NDP will pick their new leader at the end of March. rabble’s Off the Hill political panel took a look at the race and broke down the major issues, endorsements, and events of the campaign so far.
The NDP race has been defined by the 2025 federal election result, which saw the party reduced to just seven seats in the House of Commons. Then leader Jagmeet Singh failed to win re-election in his own riding, and stepped down as leader.
At time of recording, there are five candidates in the race to replace Singh.
Avi Lewis is a journalist, activist, and filmmaker who is the son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis, and grandson of former federal NDP leader David Lewis.
Heather McPherson is the only sitting NDP MP in the race for the leadership. McPherson represents the Edmonton-Strathcona riding and has been an outspoken voice in the party on foreign affairs issues.
Rob Ashton is the president of the International Longshore Workers Union and is himself a dock worker from Vancouver. Ashton is the only labour leader in the race, and late in 2025 received a major endorsement from the United Steelworkers.
Tanille Johnston is a Campbell River, BC councillor and is the first Indigenous woman to seek the NDP leadership. Johntson has a background in social work.
Tony McQuail is a farmer from Ontario who has run in the past for the NDP both and the federal and provincial levels. Quail has argued for environmentally conscious policies and for greater co-operation between the NDP and Green Party.
About our Guests
Libby Davies is a former NDP Deputy leader and former co-host of Off the Hill. Davies has expressed her support for Avi Lewis in this race.
Judy Rebick is a renowned activist and author and is the founder of rabble.ca. Rebick has also expressed her support for Lewis.
Karl Nerenberg is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and filmmaker, working in both English and French languages. He is rabble’s senior parliamentary reporter.
James Adair is the co-president of the University of Ottawa NDP Association and has expressed his support in this leadership race for Rob Ashton.
About Off the Hill
Since 2019, Off the Hill has been rabble.ca’s live political panel. Through this series, we break down important national and international news stories through a progressive lens.
This webinar series invites a rotating roster of guest activists, politicians, researchers and more to discuss how to mobilize and bring about progressive change in national politics — on and off Parliament Hill.
Our Off the Hill series has seen some changes in recent months! Check out those changes here.
