Monday, March 23, 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

Alberta Premier in Ottawa to push for federal partnership on energy projects

Alberta Premier in Ottawa to push for federal partnership on energy projects
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is in Ottawa this week, following up on her now week-old pledge to help fund the development of a proposal for a new oil pipeline to Canada's West Coast.

Alberta Premier in Ottawa to push for federal partnership on energy projects

Trump digs in on his protectionist trade approach in meeting with Carney

Trump digs in on his protectionist trade approach in meeting with Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived at the White House to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss trade and security.

Trump digs in on his protectionist trade approach in meeting with Carney

These autistic Canadians say U.S. rhetoric has been unhelpful, focus should be on early diagnoses

These autistic Canadians say U.S. rhetoric has been unhelpful, focus should be on early diagnoses
Robertson, now 25, grew up in Bruce County, Ont., a 2 ½-hour drive from Toronto, where many of the psychologists and pediatricians who diagnose autism are located. None of the local health providers would diagnose her, and it took five years of waiting to see an out-of-town specialist who finally did.

These autistic Canadians say U.S. rhetoric has been unhelpful, focus should be on early diagnoses

Two Canadians detained in Israel over flotilla to Gaza: Global Affairs Canada

Two Canadians detained in Israel over flotilla to Gaza: Global Affairs Canada
The flotilla includes lawyers, activists and doctors, including Montreal-based epidemiologist and former NDP candidate Nima Machouf.

Two Canadians detained in Israel over flotilla to Gaza: Global Affairs Canada

Trump vows new 25% tariff on heavy trucks ahead of Carney meeting

Trump vows new 25% tariff on heavy trucks ahead of Carney meeting
Trump made the announcement in a post on his social media platform Truth Social saying the new tariff rate will begin Nov. 1.

Trump vows new 25% tariff on heavy trucks ahead of Carney meeting

One person critically injured in road rage incident in North Vancouver

One person critically injured in road rage incident in North Vancouver
Mounties say they responded after multiple witnesses reported a dispute over merging between a grey Subaru and a white Jeep near Boulevard Crescent and East 21st Street Saturday afternoon.

One person critically injured in road rage incident in North Vancouver