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NDP Leadership Interview Series 2026

by Nicholas Harrison

I had the idea to create an NDP leadership bracket last year, and The Leveller kindly agreed to publish it. The article was a glib and goofy attempt to sum up the constellation of dreamers and doers that make up Canada’s modern-day left-wing. Turns out, this sparked the imagination of at least one of the actual candidates in the actual campaign to be the actual leader of the NDP.

Whoops.

To atone for that, over the past few months I have given my earnest effort to interview the five leadership candidates. My hope is that these pieces will show a bit of a different side of the candidates – digging into their backgrounds and their motivations. Whether you are one of the 100,000-plus voting members in this leadership race, or just curious to see who is going to try and steer the orange ship through the storm, please enjoy.

“We Are a Movement.”
The Leveller Interview with NDP Leadership Candidate Heather McPherson

(Credit: Heather McPherson NDP Leadership Campaign. Edited: Ashton Starr)

Tony, From the Ground Up
The Leveller Interview with NDP Leadership Candidate Tony McQuail

(Credit: Tony McQuail NDP Leadership Campaign. Edited: Ashton Starr)
 

“Enter as The Human You Are.”
The Leveller Interview with NDP Leadership Candidate Tanille Johnston(Credit: Tanille Johnston Leadership Campaign. Edited: Ashton Starr)

“We Inherit Struggle.”
The Leveller Interview with NDP Leadership Candidate Avi LewisAvi Lewis (Credit: Avi Lewis / X. Edited: Ashton Starr)

Rob, Raw.
The Leveller Interview with NDP Leadership Candidate Rob Ashton.Rob Ashton (Credit: Rob Ashton NDP Leadership Campaign. Edited: Ashton Starr)