The race for Canada's New Democratic Party leadership kicked off Thursday night in Montreal as five contenders took the stage for their first official debate. The 90-minute French-language event featured more camaraderie than confrontation but still provided several memorable moments that could shape the campaign ahead.
Language Skills Take Center Stage
Filmmaker and activist Avi Lewis emerged as the most fluent French speaker among the candidates, delivering detailed responses and engaging comfortably with francophone media during post-debate scrums. Edmonton Member of Parliament Heather McPherson demonstrated competent French despite occasional stilted responses and anglicisms, notably criticizing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for legislation that she said attacks transgender children.
The remaining three candidates—British Columbia union leader Rob Ashton, Vancouver Island city councillor Tanille Johnston, and Ontario organic farmer Tony McQuail—relied on translation earpieces throughout the evening. Ashton openly acknowledged his linguistic limitations during his closing remarks, stating "You've heard that my French is not perfect." Johnston appeared visibly flustered when asked to assess her performance in French after the debate.
Policy Clashes and Memorable Exchanges
Lewis found himself at the center of the debate's most substantive policy discussion and its most direct confrontation. During a segment on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, he made the unexpected connection between the Carney government's major infrastructure projects and the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Lewis argued that these "big, manly" projects with remote work camps create dangerous conditions for Indigenous women and girls. Later in the evening, he grew impatient with McQuail's lengthy response about rebuilding the party, interjecting "Tony, we only got eight minutes!" McQuail fired back without missing a beat, "Yea, but you've got seven more and there are only four more of you... so let me make my point!"
Fashion Statements and Montreal Flattery
The candidates used their wardrobe choices to signal their connection to working-class Canadians, presenting a clear departure from current leader Jagmeet Singh's preference for luxury watches and custom suits. Rob Ashton wore work boots on stage while criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for what he called "cosplaying" as a regular person. McQuail maintained his signature straw hat, reinforcing his image as an organic farmer.
Moderator Karl Belanger prompted some lighthearted pandering when he asked each candidate to name their favorite Canadian location. Most contenders took the obvious opportunity to compliment their host city, with McPherson exclaiming "C'mon, le Montreal!" and Lewis joking about the transparent attempt to appeal to local voters before naming Montreal among his top three cities. Johnston broke from the pattern by selecting Tofino, British Columbia—a favorite vacation spot of former Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The NDP leadership campaign continues with the next debate scheduled for February in the Vancouver area, where candidates will have another opportunity to distinguish themselves before party members make their final selection.
