NDP Leadership Vote Concludes at Winnipeg Convention

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — New Democrats from across Canada gathered in Winnipeg this weekend for their party's leadership convention, where the winner of a six-month race among five candidates will be announced Sunday morning. Voting concludes Saturday, marking a pivotal moment for the federal NDP as it seeks to recover from its worst election performance in history last year, when it won just seven seats in the House of Commons.

The convention, attended by about 2,000 delegates, combines the leadership vote with policy discussions on topics including energy, electoral reform and affordability. This is the party's first such gathering since 2023. The new leader inherits a caucus reduced to six seats following Nunavut MP Lori Idlout's defection to the Liberals two weeks ago. NDP President Lucy Watson reported Friday that the party carries about $13 million in debt, halved from $26 million after the 2025 election.

The candidates bring diverse backgrounds and visions for revitalizing the party. Avi Lewis, a documentary filmmaker, activist and journalist who has worked for outlets including Al Jazeera, leads in fundraising with $1.23 million raised, mostly in small donations averaging...