Mar 9, 2026 2:24 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur with files from The Canadian Press

Voting has begun in the federal New Democratic Party leadership race to replace Jagmeet Singh, with party members able to cast ballots until March 28.
A party official said about 100,000 members are eligible to vote in the contest. The winner will be announced March 29 at the party’s annual convention in Winnipeg.
Five candidates are seeking the leadership: union leader Rob Ashton, social worker Tanille Johnston, filmmaker Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson and farmer Tony McQuail.
Fundraising disclosures filed with Elections Canada show Lewis leading the race financially. The party’s latest quarterly returns indicate Lewis raised about $724,000 in the final three months of 2025.
McPherson reported the second-largest total during that period, raising roughly $316,000 in donations.
The leadership vote will determine who leads the New Democratic Party of Canada into the next federal election cycle. The party will confirm the new leader at its convention in Winnipeg on March 29.



