Tuesday, March 24, 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

'No one of her stature': Conservationist Jane Goodall remembered in Canada

'No one of her stature': Conservationist Jane Goodall remembered in Canada
The Jane Goodall Institute announced Wednesday that she had died of natural causes while in California during a U.S. speaking tour. She was 91. 

'No one of her stature': Conservationist Jane Goodall remembered in Canada

Spy watchdog flags risk of bias in CRA audits tied to terrorism

Spy watchdog flags risk of bias in CRA audits tied to terrorism
A national spy watchdog has found "a lack of rigour" in the way the Canada Revenue Agency selects charities for audits over terrorism concerns, saying the process introduces risks of bias and discrimination.

Spy watchdog flags risk of bias in CRA audits tied to terrorism

First Nations group questions audit that found $34M in questionable spending

First Nations group questions audit that found $34M in questionable spending
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations responded to the results of a recent forensic audit saying it has a robust system of financial management, accountability and transparency, but that processes during the probe hindered the organization's ability to provide relevant information. 

First Nations group questions audit that found $34M in questionable spending

B.C. Conservative staffer fired for calling Reconciliation Day flag a 'disgrace'

B.C. Conservative staffer fired for calling Reconciliation Day flag a 'disgrace'
Lindsay Shepherd says in a post on the social media platform X that Conservative Leader John Rustad fired her Wednesday over her remark about the raising of the flag at the provincial legislature in Victoria last week.

B.C. Conservative staffer fired for calling Reconciliation Day flag a 'disgrace'

Israeli envoy says communications with Ottawa have 'deteriorated' under Carney

Israeli envoy says communications with Ottawa have 'deteriorated' under Carney
Carney said in July his government would formally recognize a State of Palestine. Moed said his embassy "tried to reach out to the government and convey our position on recognition," before that but the outreach was unsuccessful.

Israeli envoy says communications with Ottawa have 'deteriorated' under Carney

Former Vancouver police officer awarded $30,000 after years-long grievance process

Former Vancouver police officer awarded $30,000 after years-long grievance process
Arbitrator Corinn Bell wrote that the sexual assault was the "tragic background" to the officer's complaints, but the grievance was not "directly" related to the assault. 

Former Vancouver police officer awarded $30,000 after years-long grievance process