Wednesday, March 11, 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

NASA releases possible launch dates for Artemis II quest with Canada's Jeremy Hansen

NASA releases possible launch dates for Artemis II quest with Canada's Jeremy Hansen
NASA has announced possible launch dates for the Artemis II mission, which will include Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

NASA releases possible launch dates for Artemis II quest with Canada's Jeremy Hansen

Canadian charity opens relief hub for children in Gaza

Canadian charity opens relief hub for children in Gaza
As advocates warn the world is turning away from the suffering in Gaza, a Canadian charity is opening a relief hub to give traumatized children in the enclave access to basic mental health supports and education.

Canadian charity opens relief hub for children in Gaza

Carney meets with Coastal First Nations today to talk major projects, oceans

Carney meets with Coastal First Nations today to talk major projects, oceans
Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet today with Coastal First Nations in Prince Rupert, B.C., to discuss his government's major projects agenda and marine conservation.

Carney meets with Coastal First Nations today to talk major projects, oceans

B.C. court to hear Charter challenge over religious exemptions to assisted dying law

B.C. court to hear Charter challenge over religious exemptions to assisted dying law
A trial set to begin Monday in British Columbia's Supreme Court questions whether publicly funded faith-based hospitals should be allowed to prevent patients from receiving medical assistance in dying in their facilities.

B.C. court to hear Charter challenge over religious exemptions to assisted dying law

Officials say Canada unlikely to get Chinese tariffs dropped but can expect progress

Officials say Canada unlikely to get Chinese tariffs dropped but can expect progress
Federal officials briefing reporters ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China say there might be relief coming soon on Chinese tariffs, but not a total end to the dispute with Beijing.

Officials say Canada unlikely to get Chinese tariffs dropped but can expect progress

Bank of Canada's Macklem backs U.S. Fed chair Powell amid DOJ probe

Bank of Canada's Macklem backs U.S. Fed chair Powell amid DOJ probe
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem is coming to the defence of his U.S. counterpart Jerome Powell as the chair of the Federal Reserve faces a criminal investigation from President Donald Trump's justice department.

Bank of Canada's Macklem backs U.S. Fed chair Powell amid DOJ probe