NDP confirms five contestants for leadership race to replace Jagmeet SinghBy Canadian Press on January 29, 2026. Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson and Tony McQuail met the requirements to run as candidates in the party’s election for a new leader. The leadership race was called after former leader Jagmeet Singh stepped down following his party’s brutal defeat in last year’s federal election, which saw the NDP lose party status in Parliament. The new leader will be announced at the end of March following a vote during the party’s national convention in Winnipeg. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2026.