Union leader Rob Ashton pitches ‘working class’ candidacy for NDP leadership

A New Democratic Party campaign team member works at the NDP headquarters in Ottawa on Friday, March 21, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

OTTAWA — Rob Ashton, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, pitched himself as a voice for the “working class” as he launched his bid for the federal NDP leadership on Wednesday.

The 30-year dockworker, who is billing himself as the “the first working-class labour candidate” in the race, kicked off his campaign in Toronto Wednesday morning and released a short video announcing his candidacy.

“I decided that workers needed a voice in Canada. The Conservatives, they say that they have our back and the Liberals are always standing right beside us, allegedly,” Ashton told The Canadian Press.

“But when an election happens, they disappear and the rich get richer and, quite frankly, the workers of this country are left in the dust.”

Ashton said he believes the party has lost touch with its traditional union base and blamed that in part for NDP’s crushing losses in the April 28 election.

The party was knocked down from 24 to seven seats in the House of Commons and lost recognized party status. Jagmeet Singh lost his own Vancouver-area seat and announced his resignation as party leader that night.

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford have made concerted efforts to win the support of private sector union members.

Ashton said they’ve been able to do this by channelling union members’ anger over the high cost of living.

“Workers are angry right now. Me, I’m friggin’ furious because of what’s been going on,” he said.

“We want, as workers, something to believe in. We want...to be able to say, ‘I’ve got a good job, the NDP knows how to provide us good jobs.’ And we’re honestly, I think we’re getting tired of slogans.”

Ashton said that as NDP leader, he would focus on job creation by pushing for increased home construction and shipbuilding.

While he described his French-language skills as lacking, Ashton said he’s taking classes because he wants to be able to represent all Canadians.

He joins Alberta MP Heather McPherson and documentarian Avi Lewis as the only official leadership candidates to date.

Montreal activist Yves Engler and Tanille Johnston, a Campbell River B.C. city councillor and former NDP candidate, are also expected to enter the race.

The first candidate forum is expected to take place later this month and the first of two formal debates is set for November. Exact dates have not yet been announced.

To get on the ballot, candidates need to gather at least 500 signatures that meet demographic and regional distribution requirements and pay a $100,000 entry fee.

In order to vote in the leadership race, individuals must obtain party membership by Jan. 28.

New Democrats will choose their new leader on March 29 during their party’s annual convention in Winnipeg.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2025

David Baxter, The Canadian Press