British Columbia union leader Rob Ashton has officially entered the race for the New Democratic Party (NDP) leadership, aiming to restore the party's focus on working-class Canadians. Ashton, who leads the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, expressed his willingness to engage with people over coffee or tea, emphasizing inclusivity for those in recovery from alcohol addiction.

In an interview, Ashton stated, "I’m happy to meet anyone over a coffee, too — I kind of like tea myself." He believes that rebuilding the NDP requires genuine conversations with workers, especially after the party's disappointing performance in the April federal election, where it lost significant ground in traditional blue-collar areas like Hamilton and Windsor, Ontario. The NDP now holds only seven seats, five short of the number needed for official party status.

Ashton is the third candidate to announce his candidacy, joining filmmaker Avi Lewis and Edmonton MP Heather McPherson. In a launch video, he declared his intention to make the NDP a workers' party again, stating, "I’m running because I want our party to get back to its roots, putting regular working Canadians first."

With 30 years of experience as a longshoreman and two decades representing workers, Ashton believes his background will help him connect with voters despite his lower name recognition compared to his opponents. He noted, "The difference between me and the other candidates is I’ve been a longshoreman for 30 years (and) I’ve represented workers for the last 20 years."

Ashton emphasized the need for the NDP to communicate effectively with workers, saying, "We’ve forgotten how to communicate with workers, for whatever reason, and that’s something we’ll have to re-learn." He criticized the tendency to speak down to workers, advocating for a more relatable approach.

He also addressed the ongoing debate about language within the party, particularly regarding terms like "cis man." Ashton explained, "I’ve had this exact conversation with people, about the ‘cis man’ thing, and I’ve never had any trouble getting the concept across: ‘cis man’ means you were born with a penis and identify as a male. That’s it." He believes that everyone should feel welcome in the labor movement, stating, "I announce my pronouns when I speak at conferences because everybody should feel welcome in the house of labour."

Ashton acknowledged the challenge posed by conservative leaders like Ontario Premier Doug Ford and former U.S. President Donald Trump, who have attracted blue-collar voters in recent years. He cautioned against the NDP adopting populist right-wing tactics, saying, "(Conservatives) rule on fear, and they rule on the unknown."

He added, "Division is the weapon of the boss, and any division always creates chaos and havoc within the working class." Former NDP strategist Erin Morrison noted that Ashton’s relatable persona could be a significant advantage in the leadership race, stating, "Authenticity matters. Feeling like the person who is speaking is telling you the truth about who they are, where they come from, and what they are going to do for you is very important in politics."

Ashton is set to make his first appearance on the national stage at the NDP's initial leadership candidate forum, which is scheduled for later this month.