Federal NDP leadership candidates make final pitches at convention

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Federal NDP leadership candidates made their final pitch to members at a convention in Winnipeg on Saturday, with contenders largely agreeing on their policies, though offering few details about their plans to revive the struggling party.

New Democrats have been marred by an existential crisis after years of declining support and a record low share of the popular vote in the 2025 election, culminating in the party losing official status in the House of Commons.

Party members will continue to vote until later Saturday and a new leader will be announced Sunday.

Documentary filmmaker Avi Lewis, organic farmer Tony McQuail, social worker Tanille Johnston, union leader Rob Ashton and Alberta MP Heather McPherson each used their allotted time to speak about health care concerns, climate change, the war in the Middle East and issuing higher taxes on high-income earners and large corporations.

Here’s a rundown of their closing presentations, listed in order of who spoke first.

Avi Lewis

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Introduced by Winnipeg-area MP Leah Gazan, campaign manager Savhanna Wilson and his wife, bestselling author and activist Naomi Klein, Mr. Lewis walked on stage to dozens of supporters. Many of them held “Free Palestine” and “Tax The Rich” signs.

The former television host from British Columbia is considered a frontrunner in the race and has raised more money than any of his rivals. He has twice run unsuccessfully as a federal NDP candidate, including in last year’s election.

Talking points: Mr. Lewis spoke Saturday about the importance of access to safe abortion; gender-affirming care; free transit; publicly owned grocery stores; tuition-free education; housing affordability; rights for Indigenous peoples; and a new green energy deal that would create a million jobs by investing 2 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product to fight against the effects of climate change.

He said his campaign has been run against the bleak backdrop of the war in Gaza, which he called a “genocide,” and blamed on Israel.

“We’re so close to the finish line and the start of a much bigger race to bring our party back from the wilderness and into the heart of Canadian political life once again.”

Audience reaction: Mr. Lewis received a lengthy standing ovation at the end of his speech, and the loudest applause of the day from party members.

Tony McQuail

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Introduced by Mason Mattu, a university student from British Columbia, and campaign manager Keith de Silvia-Legault, Mr. McQuail arrived on stage wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and a shirt tucked in a pair of jeans. He shook hands with onlookers, hugged supporters and handed out campaign cards before speaking.

A farmer from Ontario’s Huron County, Mr. McQuail has previously run five times federally and twice provincially as an NDP candidate, but has never won.

Talking points: His anti-war speech on Saturday focused largely on his endeavour to provide long-lasting jobs for young people; a move to proportional representation in the electoral system; the implementation of a bigger wealth tax; and his plans to decrease military spending, which he would instead divert toward education, health care, housing, transportation and green energy.

“Corporate capitalist consumerism is shredding the fabric of existence. War is its inevitable outcome,” Mr. McQuail said.

“It is delusional to think that Canada will militarily stop the United States by increasing military spending. It will only tie us tighter to the U.S. military. We need to train Canadians in the techniques of unarmed civilian defence.”

Audience reaction: He did not receive a standing ovation at the end of his speech, but heard loud applause throughout, especially after he played a campaign video that summarized his agricultural roots and childhood as a practising Quaker.

Tanille Johnston

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Introduced by Joëlle Samson, an Indigenous rights activist and close friend, Ms. Johnston walked on stage to a traditional throat song performed by lauded Winnipeg-based group Walking Wolf Singers & Dancers.

Hailing from We Wai Kai First Nation near the east coast of Vancouver Island, she said she is proud to be the first Indigenous woman to run for federal NDP leadership. She ran unsuccessfully as a federal NDP candidate last year.

Talking points: Ms. Johnston used her time Saturday to highlight her fight for proportional representation in Canada, a system in which a party’s share of seats reflects its share of the vote.

If elected, she said she would guarantee free postsecondary education, a four-day work week, more electric buses, taxes on oil companies, a shift away from fossil fuels, and ballot boxes for Indigenous communities that do not have them.

She said the NDP needs to do better to “champion democracy” both within and outside the party. To do that, she added, the party must provide free memberships and paid internships for youth.

“I know how to beat the Conservatives,” Ms. Johnston said.

Audience reaction: Her speech received the longest standing ovation and roaring applause.

Rob Ashton

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Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, introduced her brother, Mr. Ashton, calling him the “ultimate champion for the working class.”

A dockworker in Vancouver for more than three decades and union president for longshore staff, this is Mr. Ashton’s first time running for public office. He is considered one of two leading contenders behind Mr. Lewis.

His Saturday presentation was the only one to take the form of a panel discussion. He was also the only candidate to directly address his plans for the NDP’s future.

Talking points: Mr. Ashton spoke about returning New Democrats to their labour-oriented roots, saying he would eliminate the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, strengthen worker protections and give workers seats on corporate boards.

Sitting next to three supporters, he was asked about the importance of listening to younger people. But as he spoke, an audience member chanted in support of Palestine, distracting Mr. Ashton, who uttered an expletive in exasperation. He said he wants to leave behind a world that has free education, affordable homes, and “a life free of hate and full of hope.”

Mr. Ashton said reports of the NDP decline “have been greatly exaggerated” by the media. “I believe in this party,” he said.

Audience reaction: Not everybody in the crowd got up to cheer at the end of Mr. Ashton’s remarks, but he received loud applause and multiple standing ovations throughout his presentation.

Heather McPherson

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Ms. McPherson’s presentation began with an emotional audio compilation of messages from various members of her family, a short address from Saskatchewan union director Amanda Freistadt, a video tribute from former Ontario MP Charlie Angus, and an onstage endorsement from Rachel Notley, the former NDP Premier of Alberta.

First elected as a federal MP in 2019, Ms. McPherson has served as the NDP’s foreign affairs critic, whip and deputy house leader. Before that, she was the executive director of the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation.

She is considered the No. 2 contender for NDP leadership, just behind Mr. Lewis.

Talking points: Ms. McPherson, the last to speak Saturday, said she wants to extend dental-care coverage, issue a ban on corporate ownership of single-family homes and large rental portfolios, while creating a new Crown corporation to build more co-op homes.

She said the country needs to guarantee affordability for young Canadians to achieve a brighter future, which she believes must include an elimination for postsecondary tuition fees and an extension of student grants for non-university learners.

Canada needs a better plan to promote global peace, including more support for Palestine, Ms. McPherson said, adding that her record in the House of Commons reflects her commitment.

“I have a plan, I have a record, and I’m already doing the work.”

Audience Reaction: There was loud applause throughout Ms. McPherson’s speech, punctuating the end of her sentences. She received an all-out standing ovation upon her entrance and a smaller one at the end, as the convention broke for lunch.