Ottawa: With the membership signup deadline for the New Democratic Party’s leadership vote looming Wednesday night, candidates are beginning to draw clearer distinctions, signaling the start of the final push to convince members why they deserve their support.
Heather McPherson, speaking at a Tuesday news conference, emphasized the need for the federal NDP to strengthen its relationships with provincial counterparts.
“The federal NDP has to work with the provincial NDP,” McPherson said. “My goal as leader of the NDP would be to rebuild those relationships.”
Her comments appear aimed at her leadership rival, Avi Lewis, whose stance against further fossil fuel development has previously put him at odds with provincial NDP branches in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Lewis has said Canada “can’t keep increasing fossil fuel production,” a position that contrasts with McPherson’s focus on cooperation with provincial parties.
Meanwhile, momentum appears to be building behind Lewis. With two months remaining in the race, his campaign has drawn large crowds and significant fundraising support. According to the Lewis campaign, it has raised over $1 million as of Wednesday and filled venues across the country.
On Saturday night in Toronto, more than 600 supporters packed Lee’s Palace, where Lewis told the crowd, “There’s something happening in Canadian politics right now. Right now it’s happening under the surface. People aren’t seeing it. This is a leadership race for a party that’s supposed to be on life support. And we have been turning out hundreds and hundreds of people in city after city across this country.”
As the leadership vote approaches in March, the race appears to be shifting from membership drives to a clear contest of ideas, with candidates articulating contrasting visions for the party’s future.
