McPherson emphasizes unity, downtown Toronto outreach, and unwavering progressive values as key pillars of her leadership vision
Federal NDP leadership candidate Heather McPherson has outlined her vision to rebuild the party’s progressive strength, reconnect with urban voters, and position the New Democratic Party as a winning political force. Speaking during a campaign stop in Toronto, the Edmonton Strathcona MP emphasized unity, clear communication of progressive values, and a commitment to both grassroots engagement and policy substance as central to her leadership bid. McPherson drew on personal memories of her family’s Christmas dinners, when they would “take the doors off the hinges” to build a larger table for guests, to illustrate her inclusive approach. She said the party must sit at Canadians’ tables as much as it invites them to its own, a metaphor for listening, connecting, and broadening the NDP’s appeal across communities.
Her campaign comes in the wake of the party’s poor performance in the 2025 federal election, where the NDP lost significant ground in Toronto to the Conservatives. Jagmeet Singh’s resignation as leader opened the race to chart a new course. McPherson is currently the only sitting NDP MP to enter the leadership race, which also includes Avi Lewis, Rob Ashton, and Yves Engler. Acknowledging the challenge of regaining support in Toronto as an Albertan, McPherson said the party’s origins in cooperation between rural farmers and urban workers show that it can once again bridge regions and unite Canadians. She stressed that the party must communicate its values more effectively without compromising them, declaring, “We don’t change our values. But frankly, the NDP is a political party. The goal of a political party is to win. We need to get more NDP MPs elected because those MPs get things delivered for Canadians.” Citing former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who has endorsed her campaign, McPherson said that winning is essential to making meaningful change.
Known for her principled advocacy as the NDP’s foreign affairs critic, McPherson successfully sponsored a 2024 motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, halting arms sales to Israel, and recognizing the state of Palestine, which the federal government later adopted. When asked whether her stance might affect support in Toronto, she responded firmly that her career is rooted in human rights and she will always stand by what she believes is right. She identified both internal and external factors behind the NDP’s collapse in support, pointing to strategic voting against Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives and the need for greater discipline in party messaging. Her campaign is working with progressive economists and policy experts to develop major platform announcements, while internally she aims to strengthen regional organizing and empower riding associations to rebuild the party from the ground up. Addressing Torontonians directly, McPherson promised to fight for federal funding for cities, particularly on housing, and to ensure provincial governments cannot block transfers intended for municipalities. She reiterated that her presence in Toronto reflects a genuine commitment to listen to local concerns and deliver results. The NDP leadership vote is scheduled for March 2026.