NDP sets March 2026 date to elect new leader after crushing 2025 election defeat
Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) is preparing to launch a six-month leadership race in September 2025, with the party expected to elect its next permanent leader at its March 2026 national convention in Winnipeg, senior party officials confirmed to CTV News.
The move comes after a devastating loss in the 2025 federal election, where the NDP plummeted to just seven seats in the House of Commons, down from 24, losing official party status. The defeat prompted party leader Jagmeet Singh to resign on election night, ending his nearly eight-year leadership.
Singh, who made history in 2017 as the first person of color to lead a major Canadian political party, lost his own seat in Burnaby Central. In an emotional address to supporters, Singh acknowledged the defeat and said the party must “reflect and rebuild.”
The party’s national council convened this week and approved leadership race guidelines. Candidates must pay a $100,000 entry fee, which can be submitted in three installments. According to sources, full leadership rules, including nomination requirements and voting procedures, will be made public ahead of the race’s official launch in September.
The party will use a ranked-ballot system to select its new leader, with each member casting a vote that can be re-ranked between rounds. This allows for dynamic support shifts as candidates are eliminated in each round of counting.
Party members say the timing of the March 2026 convention is meant to allow for a long, open race, giving candidates a chance to connect with the grassroots and present a vision for rebuilding a party that once held over 100 seats in Parliament.
While no one has formally declared, sources within the NDP say several prominent figures are weighing bids:
Two lesser-known candidates have already signaled their intent to run. Yves Engler, a left-wing activist known for his criticism of Canadian foreign policy, and Tony McQuail, a long-time party member and organic farmer from Ontario.
Following the party’s April defeat, interim leader Don Davies was appointed in May to stabilize the NDP while a long-term strategy is shaped. At the same time, the NDP is undergoing a full-scale “review and renewal process” led by Ottawa-based human rights lawyer Emilie Taman, a former federal candidate.
The review aims to examine where the 2025 campaign went wrong, including digital strategy, voter outreach, and policy messaging. It also seeks to restore morale among party workers and supporters.
The move comes after a devastating loss in the 2025 federal election, where the NDP plummeted to just seven seats in the House of Commons, down from 24, losing official party status. The defeat prompted party leader Jagmeet Singh to resign on election night, ending his nearly eight-year leadership.
Singh, who made history in 2017 as the first person of color to lead a major Canadian political party, lost his own seat in Burnaby Central. In an emotional address to supporters, Singh acknowledged the defeat and said the party must “reflect and rebuild.”
A leadership contest
The party’s national council convened this week and approved leadership race guidelines. Candidates must pay a $100,000 entry fee, which can be submitted in three installments. According to sources, full leadership rules, including nomination requirements and voting procedures, will be made public ahead of the race’s official launch in September.
The party will use a ranked-ballot system to select its new leader, with each member casting a vote that can be re-ranked between rounds. This allows for dynamic support shifts as candidates are eliminated in each round of counting.
Party members say the timing of the March 2026 convention is meant to allow for a long, open race, giving candidates a chance to connect with the grassroots and present a vision for rebuilding a party that once held over 100 seats in Parliament.
Possible contenders
While no one has formally declared, sources within the NDP say several prominent figures are weighing bids:
- Heather McPherson, MP for Edmonton Strathcona
- Avi Lewis, filmmaker and activist
- Peter Julian, MP for New Westminster, Burnaby
- Leah Gazan, MP for Winnipeg Centre
- Alexandre Boulerice, former Quebec MP
- Nathan Cullen, former MP for Skeena, Bulkley Valley
Two lesser-known candidates have already signaled their intent to run. Yves Engler, a left-wing activist known for his criticism of Canadian foreign policy, and Tony McQuail, a long-time party member and organic farmer from Ontario.
Rebuilding the party
Following the party’s April defeat, interim leader Don Davies was appointed in May to stabilize the NDP while a long-term strategy is shaped. At the same time, the NDP is undergoing a full-scale “review and renewal process” led by Ottawa-based human rights lawyer Emilie Taman, a former federal candidate.
The review aims to examine where the 2025 campaign went wrong, including digital strategy, voter outreach, and policy messaging. It also seeks to restore morale among party workers and supporters.
