Leadership Contestants
Below are officially approved candidates seeking the leadership of Canada’s NDP. Each has been approved by the Leadership Vote Committee and is authorized to receive tax-receiptable donations via the NDP.
Rob Ashton
I’m Rob, a dockworker and a union member for over 30 years. I’m also a father, stepfather, and grandfather. I know what it means to put in a hard day’s work, to worry if the paycheque will stretch far enough, and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with others to take on the boss and win.
Today, I’m the President of the International Longshore Workers Union Canada. I’ve fought for workers and my community. I’ve built coalitions across movements for fairness and equity. I’ve tried to listen carefully, to be a problem-solver, and back up words with action. I’ve kept 12 autonomous locals united for over a decade, so I know how to build consensus even when it’s tough. I’ve worked hard to make our union one where everybody belongs.
For me, solidarity isn’t a slogan – it’s how I’ve lived my life. My union taught me that “division is the weapon of the boss,” and I’ve seen first-hand that if we stand together, we win.
Canadians want to be able to afford to put a roof over their heads and food on the table, look forward to a comfortable retirement, and still have enough left over to enjoy life with their loved ones. Instead, we face an affordability crisis and growing inequality, as the gap between ordinary people and the ultra-rich widens every year.
The NDP must once again become the party of workers and everyday people. I’m running to unite this party and make workers’ voices and the voices of everyday people the driving force of Canadian politics. I commit to having difficult conversations, rebuilding trust, and building a movement that people across Canada can see themselves in.
I’m ready to fight back against the loopholes that let the ultra-rich and big corporations call the shots, and a system that treats housing like a casino for investors instead of homes for people.
It’s time to put people before profits, every single time.
I hope you will join me.
Avi Lewis
Avi Lewis is a veteran journalist, educator and activist who brings 35 years of movement-building experience to his campaign for NDP leadership, combining grassroots organizing with national media reach to advance working-class politics across Canada.
As a two-time federal NDP candidate (West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea-to-Sky 2021, Vancouver Centre 2025), Avi understands the challenges facing our party and the communities we serve. Between campaigns, he teaches Climate Justice and Documentary Film at UBC, preparing the next generation of organizers and storytellers.
His commitment to workers' rights runs deep. In 2004, his documentary The Take chronicled Argentina's movement of democratic, worker-controlled businesses—shown in occupied factories from Chicago to Cairo. This dedication continues through decades of collaboration with unions and social movements, always centering those fighting for economic democracy.
In 2017, Avi co-founded The Leap, mobilizing thousands of Canadians to confront the intersecting crises of climate, inequality, and racism through grassroots action. His 2019 collaboration with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Message from the Future, reached millions worldwide, demonstrating how bold ideas can capture public imagination. His 2015 documentary This Changes Everything, based on his wife Naomi Klein's bestselling book, connected climate action to economic justice for audiences globally.
Throughout his media career—reporting for TV networks worldwide, hosting CBC's CounterSpin and On The Map, and co-creating Al Jazeera's Fault Lines—Avi has consistently challenged power and amplified voices of resistance. A passionate voice on the left, he pioneered political coverage for youth audiences at MuchMusic and conducted landmark interviews from David Bowie to Leonard Cohen at CityTV's The New Music.
This unique combination of electoral experience, movement leadership, media expertise, and educational commitment positions Avi to unite our party's diverse coalition while expanding our reach to new supporters.
Avi lives in Vancouver with his wife Naomi Klein, their son Toma, and their dog Smoke.
Heather McPherson
Heather McPherson grew up in a busy, working-class family. Her father was a truck driver with his own company, and her mother stayed home with the children. Their lives were full of swimming lessons, hockey practices, camping trips, and time at the lake.
Family was central to their home. They hosted large, lively dinners with her extended family – loud, chaotic, and always welcoming. No one was ever turned away. To make room for everyone, doors were taken off their hinges and laid across makeshift legs, creating tables that snaked through the house and created a place for everyone.
That sense of inclusion has guided her career – from the non-profit sector to Parliament – and shaped a leadership style that makes room, rather than shutting people out.
Before politics, Heather spent nearly 20 years in the non-profit sector, working for human rights, sustainable development, and global justice. With a Master’s degree in education focused on Indigenous knowledge and sustainability, she has always been grounded in service and fairness.
In Parliament, Heather has taken on the toughest files – from foreign affairs, human rights, and international trade to health care, seniors, and culture. Her commitment to building a more peaceful and just world has included visits to Ukraine and the Middle East, and she has advanced legislation to protect pensions, defend public health care, strengthen environmental reviews, and support people living with ADHD.
Heather has built a reputation as a fearless, fair-minded, community-building leader, committed to opening doors and making space for everyone.