The race to lead Canada’s federal New Democratic Party officially kicks into gear Wednesday evening as the five leadership contenders make their first pitches to party members at a forum in Ottawa.
Hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the event will feature one-on-one interviews conducted by CLC president Bea Bruske with each of the five approved candidates: documentary filmmaker Avi Lewis, Alberta MP Heather McPherson, union leader Rob Ashton, B.C. city councillor Tanille Johnston, and Ontario organic farmer Tony McQuail.
The leadership race follows the resignation of Jagmeet Singh, who stepped down last year after the party suffered a devastating loss in the April federal election — its worst in history. Reduced to just seven seats in the House of Commons, the NDP also lost its official party status. MP Don Davies is currently serving as interim leader.
Bruske said the event aims to introduce the contenders to party members and re-energize grassroots supporters after the NDP’s crushing defeat. “The NDP needs to re-win the lunchroom chatter — the discussion of real issues workers face every day,” she said.
She emphasized that Canadians are anxious about the cost of living, housing, job security, and the future their children will inherit. If the NDP can’t offer relatable, clear answers to those concerns, she warned, it risks losing more working-class voters to other parties.
Reflecting on her own experience campaigning for the NDP, Bruske noted that many traditional supporters voted Liberal in 2025 out of concern over U.S. tariffs and the unpredictability of President Donald Trump. Still, she said the party’s messaging must become simpler and more accessible. “We like to explain, prove, and provide data — but people don’t have time for that. They’re busy and exhausted. Our ideas need to be clear, digestible, and easy to connect with,” she said.
The forum begins at 6 p.m. ET and will be livestreamed by the CLC, which reported over 1,500 registrations as of Tuesday morning. The event will open with a group photo of the candidates before Bruske begins individual discussions in a randomly drawn order.
The first official debate of the leadership race is set for late November in Montreal, while party members will cast their votes at the annual NDP convention in Winnipeg on March 29.