OTTAWA — The first of three fundraising deadlines for the NDP leadership race landed Friday, and two candidates are at risk of falling short of the requirements.
A campaign spokesperson for Tanille Johnston, a Campbell River B.C. city councillor, said she will “most likely” be able to make the $25,000 payment.
“It’s no small feat asking our working-class base to help hit a $100,000 target to get Tanille on the ballot. But momentum is building and we’re growing our grassroots support every day, and I’m glad to say that we’ll most likely make our first paywall target tomorrow,” the spokesperson said in an email late Thursday.
Johnston’s social media is promoting campaign appearances set for Friday night and Saturday.
Tony McQuail, an Ontario organic farmer, said in an email his campaign has the necessary funds but does not yet have enough regional signatures to meet the required thresholds.
“Because of a slow start up to our email system, what we are currently short of is the National Distribution of our Nomination Signatures,” McQuail said in email late Thursday.
A party official said the deadline to get the necessary signatures is Nov. 14.
Candidates need 500 signatures from party members and at least 50 from each of five regions — the Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, B.C. and the North.
McQuail said he has “lots” of signatures from Ontario and enough to meet the target for signatures from party members aged 25 and under, women, and what the party describes as “equity seeking groups.” They include members who are LGBTQ+, Indigenous racialized, and people with disabilities.
The first of four $25,000 payments was due when candidates submitted their nomination signature packages.
The campaigns for Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson and Rob Ashton all say that they have made the latest leadership payment.
A spokesperson for the Lewis campaign said they’ve raised $255,000 so far from over 1,500 donors.
NDP third quarter financial returns show McPherson raised nearly $100,000 by Sept. 30.
An Ashton campaign spokesperson said “momentum continues to build” for his campaign.
The NDP leadership candidates are scheduled to meet in Montreal for a predominantly French debate on Nov. 27.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2025.
David Baxter, The Canadian Press
