
Federal NDP plans to have a new leader by end of March
In a closed-door meeting Thursday, the NDP's federal council agreed on a six-month race starting in September with a $100,000 entry fee, said sources familiar with the discussions. It's seen as a compromise between opposing factions of the party following
tense debates
and
internal discord
in the weeks ahead of the decision. Not all rules for the race were decided Thursday.
Some had called for a
lengthy race with a low-entry fee
in an effort to allow more candidates to enter the race and vigorously debate the direction of the party. Others had called for a
short race with a higher fee
, citing the instability of minority Parliaments and a need to replenish the party's coffers after it had its worst-ever election result.
Tensions are expected to remain as the left wing of the party and the center-left battle over the direction of the NDP during the leadership race. Earlier this week, a grassroots group dubbed 'Reclaim Canada's NDP,' supported by former MPs Matthew Green and Rachel Blaney, called on party donors to redirect funds to local riding associations instead of the central party, a significant act of protest in the face of
mounting disillusionment with the party's leadership
.
The party was reduced to just seven seats in Parliament in the April 28 election, losing out on critical rebates from Elections Canada and funding for House of Commons staff and operations and leading to former leader Jagmeet Singh's resignation. It announced this week it was launching a review of the election campaign, led by lawyer and former candidate Emilie Taman.
Edmonton-Strathcona MP Heather McPherson, who is notable for her criticism of the Canadian government's response to the war in Gaza and her past support for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, is widely expected to launch a leadership bid, but has yet to confirm her intention despite signalling an openness to enter the race.
Over the last few weeks, she marched with Ontario New Democrats at the Toronto Pride Parade, mingled with labour unions at the Calgary Stampede, and shared a
video to social media
describing the party's recent election campaign as a 'wake-up call,' that failed to provide leadership and solutions and lost voters' trust.
Other potential candidates, include several influential figures on the left-wing of the party, including Green, climate activist Avi Lewis and Winnipeg Centre MP Leah Gazan.
So far, the only people to announce an intention to run are farmer and former Huron-Bruce candidate Tony McQuail and Yves Engler — a Montreal-based activist known for aggressive confrontations with elected officials of all stripes over the war in Gaza.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hamilton Spectator
22 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Fact Check: ‘I'm very much alive,' says byelection candidate alleged to have died
An online conspiracy theory recently claimed that a candidate on the ballot in the federal byelection in Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot riding had died in February. The source for the claim was an obituary for an unrelated woman with the same name. The real candidate told The Canadian Press that Elections Canada verified her identity before putting her name on the ballot. THE CLAIM There are more than 200 candidates running in the Aug. 18 Battle River-Crowfoot byelection, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. But according to some internet conspiracy theorists, one of them is dead. A TikTok video posted last Saturday claimed candidate Elsie Kipp appears on the ballot despite having died in February. Its source was the online obituary of a Canadian woman with the same name. The claim prompted other social media users on platforms including X to question Elections Canada's process for vetting candidates. RATING: False The Canadian Press spoke to the actual candidate, who said she is 'very much alive.' In a phone interview this week, Kipp said she is running in the byelection as part of the Longest Ballot Committee's plan to stack the ballot with a large number of candidates — its bid to draw public attention to the issue of electoral reform. Conservative Damien Kurek won the sprawling eastern Alberta riding with more than 82 per cent of the vote in the April general election. He resigned to allow Poilievre, who lost his seat in the Ottawa riding of Carleton, the chance to return to the House of Commons in the fall. Kipp said she had to show her ID and take a candidate's oath on camera. Before that, she had to provide copies of her identification and other personal information. 'I did a full package to make sure that I was legally allowed on the ballot,' Kipp said. Elections Canada said in an emailed statement that all candidates on the ballot 'have met the requirements under the Canada Elections Act, which includes providing the returning officer with appropriate ID.' While the Longest Ballot Committee candidates aren't running typical campaigns, they need to meet the same requirements as anyone else. Candidates must file a nomination paper, which notes they must provide proof of their identity to the returning officer. 'You can submit identification documents directly, or copies may be provided by the person filing the nomination paper, as long as the copies are signed by you,' the nomination form reads. Required ID includes any card issued by a government agency with a name and photo, such as a driver's licence or Canadian passport. Candidates need to sign a legal oath, referred to as a 'solemn declaration,' in front of the returning officer. This can be done over video conference, as in Kipp's case, and the candidate must show their identification. Kipp, who lives outside Hope, B.C., said she decided to run in the Alberta byelection because 'it's strange that people can run in a riding that they don't live in.' 'The reason I put my name forward was so people would say, 'Why would you do that? You don't live there?' and I would say 'Yes, that's interesting,'' Kipp said. In a followup message, Kipp said she wanted to highlight the 'arrogance' of a candidate running in a community they don't live in and said she doesn't want anyone to vote for her. She also expressed her condolences and concern for the late Elsie Kipp. 'Though my only connection to the other Elsie Kipp is our shared names, I am deeply sorry that her image and obituary details are being used to spread misinformation …. It's unfortunate that conspiracy theories can take off so easily — especially when people are being intentionally misled using something as sensitive as someone's passing,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Saskatchewan Opposition calls for rent control
Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP says it plans to introduce a rent control bill in the legislature this fall. At a news conference in Saskatoon on Thursday, Opposition housing critic April ChiefCalf said the party has started a public consultation process, inviting people to share their experiences and suggestions at a website the NDP has set up. ChiefCalf said feedback will shape the private member's legislation she intends to introduce. "Saskatchewan people are drowning in debt. We hear stories of people paying their rent on credit, forced to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table," she said. B.C., Ontario, Manitoba and P.E.I. already have rent control measures. ChiefCalf said seniors on fixed incomes are bearing the brunt of it. "I have also spoken to young people who don't believe they will ever be able to afford the down payment on their first home," she said. Asked for comment on the proposal, the provincial government provided a statement saying rent control would make the housing situation in the province worse. "Rent controls have caused housing shortages wherever they have been tried," the statement said. "Jurisdictions that have introduced rent control legislation frequently see fewer new housing units being built, ultimately resulting in less affordable housing being available." The statement referenced the Saskatchewan Housing Benefit, which provided some assistance to low to moderate income families for rent and utilities. It also mentioned that social housing is available, and that the province has offered grants for secondary suites and PST rebates for new home construction to stimulate the housing supply. Jean Carroll, 86, was at the NDP news conference promoting a petition campaign after seeing rents skyrocket in her apartment building. "Our rents have gone from 10 to 30 per cent practically, and that in dollars is $185 to $425 per month increase. We cannot afford it. It's hard to understand how the increases go unchecked in this province when in other provinces they have rent controls," Carroll said. "I want this government to wake up and smell the coffee. We've got rent control in other provinces and it works very well." Another tenant, 76-year-old Linda McWaters, said she and her 73-year-old husband have had to keep working to cover their rent. Their combined pension increase this year was just $42, while their rent rose by $156. "It's not by choice, it's by kind of necessity. We're not in a position where we can't move things," McWaters said.

Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
Trump administration scolds allies over Palestinian statehood
Yet the Trump administration isn't wavering in its support for Israel. 'The president expressed his displeasure and his disagreement with the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Canada,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday. 'He feels as though that's rewarding Hamas at a time where Hamas is the true impediment to a ceasefire and to the release of all of the hostages.' After Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday he intends to recognize Palestine as a state, Trump suggested on Thursday the move will complicate future trade negotiations between the neighboring countries. The three U.S. allies would join 147 other U.N. member nations in recognizing Palestinian statehood. The U.K. said its recognition of a Palestinian state was contingent on Israel not improving conditions in the war-torn strip. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed recognition of Palestinian statehood as 'irrelevant' while calling the leaders of Canada, France and the U.K. 'clumsy' for offering a concession to Palestinian leaders before Hamas has released all the hostages it took in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. 'The U.K. is like, well, 'if Israel doesn't agree to a ceasefire by September, we're going to recognize a Palestinian state,'' Rubio said in a Fox News Radio interview on Thursday. 'So if I'm Hamas, I say, 'you know what, let's not allow there to be a ceasefire.' If Hamas refuses to agree to a ceasefire, it guarantees a Palestinian state will be recognized by all these countries in September.' In another swipe at the notion of Palestinian statehood, the State Department levied new sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization on Thursday. Thursday's flurry of scorn for Canada's plans to recognize Palestinian statehood came after a relatively tame initial response to the U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement. When asked about the U.K. recognizing Palestinian statehood, Trump told reporters on Tuesday he has 'no view' on the issue.