Federal NDP to select a new leader in March after six month leadership race

OTTAWA — The federal New Democrats will select their new leader next March following a six-month leadership race,  where contenders will have to submit a $100,00 entry fee, according to a source familiar with the decision.

The details come as the party’s federal executive and council met to discuss the upcoming race, which will begin in September.

The NDP’s top job opened up after former party leader Jagmeet Singh stepped down after losing his seat in the April 28 federal election, which delivered the party its worst electoral defeat yet.

The federal New Democrats were reduced to seven seats in the House of Commons, down from its previous 24.

Rebuilding the party will be the first order of business for the new leader, which will be no easy task considering the federal NDP is strapped for cash after the election, with hundreds of candidates failing to crack 10 per cent or more of the votes needed to qualify for campaign reimbursements from Elections Canada.

The upcoming race will be a critical way for the party to raise money, reconnect with party members, as well as draw in new supporters.

Recently, it announced that human rights and labour lawyer Emilie Taman, who has also been a candidate for the party, will steer its 2025 election review. 

It has committed to sharing the results of the review with party members before the end of the year.

Interim NDP Leader Don Davies will lead the party’s six-member caucus until a new leader is chosen.

Edmonton NDP MP Heather McPherson, one of the names floated as a possible leadership contender and one of the most prominent names within the party among current MPs, recently posted a video to Facebook, saying she wanted to hear about how the party needs to change.

“The last election was a wake-up call,” she said in a short video shared on July 7.

“The NDP played it safe. We were neutral in a moment that demanded leadership. We stayed on the sidelines while people were asking us for solutions. And as a result, we lost trust.”

Former longtime NDP MP Charlie Angus, who decided not to seek reelection but has hosted news conferences on Parliament Hill since the election, has said he does not plan to run for leadership, but called the last election “an unmitigated disaster” for the party. 

Angus criticized how people felt the party was too “leader-focused” and ended up losing touch, and also underscored the need to rebuild the party.

• Majority of Canadians unfamiliar with possible NDP leadership contenders, poll finds
• Jagmeet Singh resigning as NDP leader after losing his seat, his party routed

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