Thursday, March 12, 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

Young Canadians tell of their generations' challenges and hopes

Young Canadians tell of their generations' challenges and hopes
The Canadian Press has been speaking with young people across the country about challenges facing their generation — and ways they continue to find joy.

Young Canadians tell of their generations' challenges and hopes

Inflation steady at 2.2% in November despite grocery price hike

Inflation steady at 2.2% in November despite grocery price hike
Rising costs at the grocery store were causing fresh pain for consumers in November even as Statistics Canada reports the overall inflation rate held steady in the month.

Inflation steady at 2.2% in November despite grocery price hike

'High impact' warning as heavy rain returns, causing more flooding concerns in B.C.

'High impact' warning as heavy rain returns, causing more flooding concerns in B.C.
The B.C. government says heavy rain may cause more flooding in low-lying areas in the province, with parts of Metro Vancouver under a new flood warning.

'High impact' warning as heavy rain returns, causing more flooding concerns in B.C.

Federal minister says he's getting 'lots of inquiries' about MPs crossing the floor

Federal minister says he's getting 'lots of inquiries' about MPs crossing the floor
A federal minister dropped hints about more floor crossings Monday following the defection of Ontario MP Michael Ma to the Liberals last week.

Federal minister says he's getting 'lots of inquiries' about MPs crossing the floor

Pedestrian killed in crash with police vehicle in Surrey, B.C.

Pedestrian killed in crash with police vehicle in Surrey, B.C.
British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating after a pedestrian was killed in a crash involving a police vehicle in Surrey, B.C.

Pedestrian killed in crash with police vehicle in Surrey, B.C.

Poilievre says Carney's Liberals are 'counterfeit' Conservatives

Poilievre says Carney's Liberals are 'counterfeit' Conservatives
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is practising "counterfeit Conservatism."

Poilievre says Carney's Liberals are 'counterfeit' Conservatives