OTTAWA — The race to select the next leader of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) is beginning to take shape, revealing two distinct paths for the party's future. As the contest unfolds, it is becoming a referendum on whether the NDP should focus on attracting middle-class moderates or reconnecting with its traditional blue-collar base.

Erin Morrison, a former NDP strategist and current vice-president at Texture Communications, noted, "We’re starting to see two clear visions for the party emerge. One’s saying it’s got to be a bigger tent, and one’s saying we have to get back to our core roots of who we are as a party." Morrison added that while these visions are not necessarily mutually exclusive, they differ in focus and strategy.

Three of the four leadership candidates have shared their perspectives on the central question of the race, which will conclude in March. Edmonton MP Heather McPherson, third-generation party member Avi Lewis, and British Columbia labor leader Rob Ashton have all weighed in. The fourth candidate, Campbell River city councillor Tanille Johnston, did not respond in time for publication.

McPherson has positioned herself as the candidate for a broader coalition, emphasizing the need for the NDP to win more seats. "My offer … is that I want us to win more seats, because I think when more New Democrats get elected, more good things happen for Canadians," she said. The NDP faced significant challenges in the recent federal election, securing only seven MPs, a drop of five from the number needed for official party status, and a vote share of just 6.3 percent.

She argued that the party cannot regain lost ground while imposing strict ideological tests. "Ultimately, what we are is a political party, and ultimately as a political party, we need to win. The only way we help Canadians is if we win," McPherson stated. However, her campaign has faced criticism, particularly after her September launch, which sparked backlash online. Fellow NDP MP Leah Gazan accused McPherson of using the term "purity tests" as a racial dog-whistle, stating that it protects the status quo that has historically favored white, male, and able-bodied workers.

Interim NDP leader Don Davies expressed confidence in the party's democratic process, stating he welcomed the discussions arising from the leadership race. "You know, we’re a very democratic party … and sometimes democracy can be expressed in robust ways," he said. Gazan has confirmed she will not run for the leadership.

Lewis, while respecting McPherson's views, offered a different analysis of the NDP's recent electoral struggles. He attributed the party's decline to confusion stemming from former leader Jagmeet Singh's 2022 supply and confidence agreement with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "From knocking on around 10,000 doors myself … I can tell you that Canadians, at least in Vancouver, were super confused. Jagmeet seemed so angry at Justin all the time, and yet he was still supporting him and keeping his government in place," Lewis explained.

He believes the NDP should not shift toward the center but instead address the structural issues making life unaffordable for many Canadians. "I believe that the NDP’s role in our democracy is to speak uncomfortable truths about the structural factors making life so unaffordable for everyday Canadians," Lewis said. The leadership race is set to continue as candidates outline their visions for the party's future.