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

Carney to host Canada's premiers in Ottawa

Carney to host Canada's premiers in Ottawa
Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet with Canada's premiers in Ottawa later this month as global tensions rise and as trade talks with the U.S. remain stalled.

Carney to host Canada's premiers in Ottawa

Vancouver Island logging protesters hit out at arson 'insinuation'

Vancouver Island logging protesters hit out at arson 'insinuation'
A group protesting old-growth logging on Vancouver Island is hitting out at an "insinuation" they were involved in the suspected arson of logging equipment last week.

Vancouver Island logging protesters hit out at arson 'insinuation'

Chrystia Freeland resigning as Toronto MP on Friday

Chrystia Freeland resigning as Toronto MP on Friday
Longtime Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland, who was a driving force in Canadian politics throughout the past decade, will resign as a member of Parliament on Friday.

Chrystia Freeland resigning as Toronto MP on Friday

RCAF commander reports progress on filling recruitment, retention gaps

RCAF commander reports progress on filling recruitment, retention gaps
A substantial entry level pay hike for pilots and the acquisition of new and advanced aircraft are “absolutely” helping to shore up Royal Canadian Air Force pilot retention and morale, says the force's commander.

RCAF commander reports progress on filling recruitment, retention gaps

Supreme Court to hear challenge of law allowing Ontario Place redevelopment

Supreme Court to hear challenge of law allowing Ontario Place redevelopment
The Supreme Court of Canada will hear an appeal from a coalition challenging the constitutionality of legislation that opens the door to major changes at Ontario Place.

Supreme Court to hear challenge of law allowing Ontario Place redevelopment

Calls for caution as Carney prepares to meet Xi amid new global political order

Calls for caution as Carney prepares to meet Xi amid new global political order
Former Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Albert Chan Wai-yip is a longtime critic of China, who has accused its government of "crimes against humanity" after a crackdown on dissent in the Chinese special administrative region.

Calls for caution as Carney prepares to meet Xi amid new global political order