NDP leadership hopefuls McPherson, Ashton signal break from Avi Lewis as race enters critical stretch

OTTAWA —  NDP leadership hopefuls Heather McPherson and Rob Ashton are stressing their differences from social activist Avi Lewis  as the party’s leadership race hits a critical juncture.

Both campaigns told National Post that the two candidates are aligned on several of the race’s top issues, including the federal NDP’s relationship with provincial wings, the role of labour unions in the party and the need for the party to win back its traditional blue-collar base.

A senior official on McPherson’s campaign emphasized her strengths “in addition to” the positive attributes Ashton brings to the table.

“If someone says to me that they want to support Rob (Ashton) because they like the working-class work that he does, what I say is, with Heather (McPherson), you get all that, plus she’s a member of Parliament and she’s ready to go on day one … so you should vote for her first and put him number two (on the ranked ballot),” said the official.

The McPherson staffer, who was not authorized to discuss the campaign publicly said it “goes without saying” that she and Ashton are closer to one another on the issues than either is to Lewis.

They stressed that there is currently no coordination between the two campaigns.

“Our focus right now is making sure that as many people as possible rank Heather number one on their ballots,” said the

Ashton took the first major swipe of the campaign in early January, when he accused Lewis of taking the party “in the wrong direction” by rebuking British Columbia’s NDP government for backing fossil fuel projects.

Ashton said in a clip posted to social media that Lewis’s approach “turns New Democrats against each other and undermines the wins (provincial) NDP governments are delivering.”

A spokesperson for Ashton’s campaign told National Post that the video was about “showcasing two different leadership styles.”

“Considering that the party doesn’t even have official status right now, we need to rebuild trust in voters, and why not take a look at what’s working in the provinces?” said the spokesperson.

McPherson demurred when asked in Ottawa on Tuesday whether she thought Lewis was “divisive” but echoed Ashton’s sentiments about wanting the federal NDP to work as a partner with the provincial wings.

“I’ve been clear through this entire leadership race that I want to work with the provincial NDP, the parties across the country that are doing so very well,” said McPherson. “My goal, as a leader of the NDP would be to rebuild those relationships (and) work well with the provincial parties.”

McPherson was speaking to the media shortly after tabling a private members’ bill to ban so-called “company unions” that she says clandestinely work to entrench the power of employers over workers.

She told National Post she objected to the language Lewis used to characterize blue-collar resource workers at the party’s November debate in Montreal, where he said that “man camps” in remote areas had an “intense” and “horrifying” impact on Indigenous women and girls.

“We must take violence against Indigenous women and girls seriously, always. Stereotyping workers who are doing their jobs and providing for their families does not help do that. We need real safeguards and accountability, not caricatures of working people,” said McPherson.

Lewis’s insinuations about resource workers also raised objections from some blue-collar unions .

McPherson also said that she wasn’t cowed by the large crowds Lewis is drawing in a handful of major cities.

“We rebuild our party by connecting with our members from coast to coast: not just Toronto in Vancouver,” said McPherson.

Ashton’s campaign said it was likewise “focused on meeting with as many people as possible” and added that an influx of ex-NDP voters who now vote Conservative have been showing up at recent events.

Jordan Leichnitz, a former spokesperson for ex-NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, said it “makes sense” that McPherson and Ashton were gravitating toward one another, and away from Lewis, as the campaign progressed.

“There’s likely a fair bit of overlap between their supporters (and) shared concern on getting unions closer to the party again,” said Leichnitz.

The leadership vote will used a ranked ballot where members can write in a number behind each of the five approved candidates.

Down-ballot support could be a decisive factor in the race with Ashton, McPherson and Lewis all seen as viable contenders to win .

National Post rmohamed@postmedia.com

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