March 27-29: Follow CPAC's full coverage as New Democrats gather in Winnipeg to debate policy, consider the party's future, and find out who their next leader will be.
One of Rob Ashton, Tenille Johnston, Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, and Tony McQuail will be named the winner on Sunday, March 29, following a nearly three-week-long voting process.
Meanwhile, NDP delegates will consider policy and constitutional resolutions. They'll also consider how to move the party forward after falling to seven seats in the last election -- and losing an MP to the Liberals earlier this month.
THE CANDIDATES
WATCH: Award-winning CPAC host Michael Serapio sits down with the five NDP leadership candidates to discuss their platforms and the future of the federal party.
THE VOTING
- Just over 100,000 people are eligible to vote, according to the NDP.
- Eligible voters had to be a party member in good standing as of Jan. 28, 2026.
- Online and telephone voting runs from March 9 until March 28 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT.
- The NDP uses a ranked ballot. Voters rank their candidates in order of preference. If no one has an initial majority, the last-place candidate is dropped. Their ballots are re-assigned to the next recorded preference. The process continues until a winner emerges.
- There is one count of all ballots from across Canada, compared to the Conservative and Liberal leadership processes, which awards points per federal riding.
THE CONVENTION
- Convention delegates are selected by riding associations, youth bodies, or affiliated labour unions.
- Delegates debate resolutions and consider changes to the NDP Constitution and Policy Book.
THE LAST ELECTION
- The New Democratic Party saw a significant drop in support: 6.3% of the popular vote (a drop of 11.5%) and 7 seats in the House of Commons (a loss of 17 MPs).
- NDP support plummeted in the key provinces of Ontario (4.8%, down from 18%) and British Columbia (13%, down from 29%).
- The NDP broke the 40-per-cent level in just three ridings: Edmonton Strathcona (AB), Rosemont--La Petite-Patrie (QC), and Vancouver East (BC). There were 10 other ridings where the NDP won at least 30% of the vote.
- Jagmeet Singh lost his own race in Burnaby Central and announced on election night that he would step down as party leader.