Or perhaps people are simply overlooking the benefit of a leadership race — to reflect on the party’s mistakes, and solidify their identity going forward. Former NDP leadership candidate Nathan Cullen told CBC that the candidates are in “violent agreement” with each other. Johnston is a UVic alumna, a proud Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ woman from the WeWaiKai First Nation, social worker, and was the NDP candidate for North Island-Powell River in the 2025 election. “Students right now are graduating into impossible rent, crushing tuition, and jobs that don’t pay,” Johnston said in the second NDP leadership debate on Jan. 10. He has a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, and has run a cumulative seven times as an NDP candidate in Ontario, both provincially and federally.