Union leader Rob Ashton joins race for NDP leadership
OTTAWA — Rob Ashton, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, has announced he’s running for the federal NDP leadership.
Ashton, who is billing himself as the “the first working-class labour candidate” in the race, released a short campaign launch video Wednesday morning.
“I’m done watching working people pick between Liberals and Conservatives, only to end up with the short end of the stick,” Ashton says in his video.
“I’m running because I want our party to get back to its roots, putting regular working Canadians first.”
He joins Alberta MP Heather McPherson and documentarian Avi Lewis as official leadership candidates.
Montreal activist Yves Engler and Tanille Johnston, a Campbell River B.C. city councillor and former NDP candidate, are also considering leadership runs.
The first candidate forum is expected to take place later this month, and the first of two formal debates is set for November. Exact dates have not yet been announced.
To get on the ballot, candidates need to gather at least 500 signatures that meet demographic and regional distribution requirements and pay a $100,000 entry fee.
In order to vote in the leadership race, individuals must obtain party membership by Jan. 28.
New Democrats will choose their new leader on March 29 during their party’s annual convention in Winnipeg.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2025
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