Thursday, March 19, 2026
ADVT 
National

Voting begins in NDP leadership race, Singh's successor to be named March 29

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Mar, 2026 11:00 AM
  • Voting begins in NDP leadership race, Singh's successor to be named March 29

Voting began Monday in the federal NDP leadership race, with a March 28 deadline for party members to cast their votes.

A party official says 100,000 members are eligible to vote in the election.

In the 2017 leadership race, which was won by Jagmeet Singh on the first ballot, the party had just under 125,000 members eligible to vote.

During the 2012 leadership contest, won by Tom Mulcair, the party had more than 128,000 members eligible to vote.

There are five candidates in the current race: union leader Rob Ashton, social worker Tanille Johnston, filmmaker Avi Lewis, Alberta MP Heather McPherson and farmer Tony McQuail.

Lewis is far and away the fundraising leader in this race. Interim financial returns filed to Elections Canada show his campaign has collected more than $1.2 million from more than 10,000 contributors.

McPherson saw the second largest share of donations — about $560,000 from 3,800 contributors, based on her interim returns.

Ashton has raised just shy of $357,000 from about 2,000 donors. Returns for the Johnston and McQuail campaigns are not yet publicly available.

McQuail told The Canadian Press Monday that his campaign has raised about $150,000 from about 1,000 donors. He described the support as "incredibly generous."

The Liberal party said nearly 400,000 members were eligible to vote in the two-month-long 2025 leadership contest that made Mark Carney prime minister.

The Conservatives had 675,000 eligible voting members in the 2022 contest that ended with Pierre Poilievre as leader.

The results of the NDP leadership contest will be announced on March 29 during the party's annual convention in Winnipeg.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

MORE National ARTICLES

Quebec coroners call for metro platform screen doors in Montreal to prevent suicides

Quebec coroners call for metro platform screen doors in Montreal to prevent suicides
The Quebec coroner's office has released a series of recommendations aimed at preventing suicides in Montreal's metro system.

Quebec coroners call for metro platform screen doors in Montreal to prevent suicides

PM Carney expected to reveal thinking behind coming federal budget in speech today

PM Carney expected to reveal thinking behind coming federal budget in speech today
Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to give a speech later today on the tough choices his Liberal government faces in its first budget. 

PM Carney expected to reveal thinking behind coming federal budget in speech today

Conservative MPs deflect questions about Poilievre's comments on Trudeau, RCMP

Conservative MPs deflect questions about Poilievre's comments on Trudeau, RCMP
Some Conservative MPs are deflecting questions about their leader’s comments on the RCMP, after the Liberals, Greens and NDP called for an apology.

Conservative MPs deflect questions about Poilievre's comments on Trudeau, RCMP

B.C. gang leader pleads guilty to conspiracy to murder Bacon brothers

B.C. gang leader pleads guilty to conspiracy to murder Bacon brothers
A British Columbia gang leader has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder three members of a rival gang more than 15 years ago.

B.C. gang leader pleads guilty to conspiracy to murder Bacon brothers

NDP leadership contenders to make their pitches to voters in first forum

NDP leadership contenders to make their pitches to voters in first forum
The five official candidates for the federal NDP leadership will get their first chance to sell themselves to party members at a forum in Ottawa on Wednesday evening.

NDP leadership contenders to make their pitches to voters in first forum

BC-India Business Network and Canada India Foundation Celebrate Diwali

BC-India Business Network and Canada India Foundation Celebrate Diwali
The BC–India Business Network (BCIBN) and the Canada India Foundation (CIF) came together to host a vibrant and meaningful Diwali Gala on Friday, October 17, at the Aria Convention Centre in Surrey.

BC-India Business Network and Canada India Foundation Celebrate Diwali