Tuesday, March 10, 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

NDP leadership candidates pitch their rebuilding plans to voters in final debate

NDP leadership candidates pitch their rebuilding plans to voters in final debate
The NDP leadership candidates began the final official debate with a general acknowledgment they agree on policies, but have different visions for how to achieve their most existential goal — rebuilding the party. 

NDP leadership candidates pitch their rebuilding plans to voters in final debate

Dr. Joss Reimer named Canada's new chief public health officer

Dr. Joss Reimer named Canada's new chief public health officer
Dr. Joss Reimer, a physician from Manitoba, is set to take over as Canada's new chief public health officer this spring.

Dr. Joss Reimer named Canada's new chief public health officer

Bhangu makes 11 running for the leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party

Bhangu makes 11 running for the leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party
Harman Bhangu, the member of the legislature for Langley-Abbotsford, has announced he's running to become leader of the British Columbia Conservative Party. 

Bhangu makes 11 running for the leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party

LeBlanc to meet with Trump's trade czar to talk about CUSMA review

LeBlanc to meet with Trump's trade czar to talk about CUSMA review
The minister in charge of Canada-U.S. trade said he will be sitting down with U.S. President Donald Trump's trade czar in the coming weeks to discuss the looming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.

LeBlanc to meet with Trump's trade czar to talk about CUSMA review

Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon says federal strategy gets "two thumbs up" from B.C.

Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon says federal strategy gets
British Columbia Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon says he will be meeting with federal Defence Minister David McGuinty to discuss shipbuilding in B.C. among other possibilities following the release of Canada's defence industrial strategy.

Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon says federal strategy gets "two thumbs up" from B.C.

Police in Surrey, B.C., denied request to delay next step in transition plan: chief

Police in Surrey, B.C., denied request to delay next step in transition plan: chief
The chief of the Surrey Police Service says his force, which has been swamped with extortion cases, has been denied by the B.C. government its request to delay the transition from the RCMP.

Police in Surrey, B.C., denied request to delay next step in transition plan: chief