Party spokeswoman Michelle Ervin says it’s too early to tell when members will vote to choose their new leader.
According to party regulations, the provincial council, a decision-making body, should appoint an interim leader soon, which Ms Ervin confirms. The interim leader does not participate in the leadership race.
If the NDP is so far sparing of comment on the upcoming race, Mr Graefe believes the party shouldn’t wait too long.
Political scientist Peter Graefe believes that the NDP would benefit from holding its leadership race no later than the beginning of next winter.
Photo: Radio-Canada
For a political party, not having a leader is still costly
he explains.
” [Un parti sans chef] is much less present in the media, as well as in the public eye. It is also much more difficult to collect money from members. »
He gives the example of NDP federal government, which was about 18 months without a leader after the resignation of Thomas Mulcair in April 2016.
His successor, Jagmeet Singh, was only elected on October 1, 2017.
I think they determined that it was a bad decision, that it cost them a lot for their public presence
notes the professor of political science.
A few names circulating
In Northern Ontario, France Gélinas, who won her first election for NDP in Nickel Belt 14 years ago, said emphatically during an interview the show The northern morning that she was not interested in the position of chef.
The role of deputy is more than enough for her. It is an important post, a post of deputy. People have chosen to give me this responsibility, and I will do my best to meet their expectations.
France Gélinas won a fifth term. She is now the oldest NDP MP in Northern Ontario, following the defeat of Gilles Bisson.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Sara Maccagnan
Peter Graefe believes that Ms. Gélinas may agree to be interim leader.
In the south of the province, Marit Stiles, elected for the first time in 2018, said on the airwaves of CBC that she could run for the leadership if she receives support.
Prior to the dissolution of the House, she was the opposition critic for education.
Marit Stiles has just won a second term as an MP.
Photo: Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The name of Kristyn Wong-Tam, who has just been elected in Toronto-Centre, is also circulating. She had been a city councilor in Toronto since 2010.
Peter Graefe also underlines the ambition of Joel Harden, re-elected in Ottawa Center on Thursday evening, who might want to lead the party one day.
He is the NDP MP elected with the largest gap this year: 17,576 more votes than the Liberal candidate who finished second.
He said on Thursday that a change in party leadership was needed, even before Ms Horwath announced her resignation.
When asked if he was considering running for the leadership, Mr Harden replied, however: That’s not what I have in mind at the moment, frankly.
Joel Harden was re-elected in Ottawa Centre.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Rosalie Sinclair
Peter Graefe believes that Mr Harden could benefit from the support of the left wing of the party if he runs, while a candidate like Marit Stiles would probably have more support from the more centrist wing as well as from unions like the Steelworkers.
The political scientist points out that support in several regions is one of the keys to victory in a race for the NDP leadership. It’s not always the Toronto region or the Ottawa region where we find that support.
Andrea Horwath had succeeded in 2009 in rallying the members of Hamilton, the Southwest and Niagara to become chief, he recalls.
External candidates
The next head of NDP Ontario may not be part of the current caucus, although it may be more difficult then to get known to members, especially if the race is short, says Peter Graefe.
Mike Layton, the son of the former leader of the NDP federal Jack Layton, is currently a city councilor in Toronto.
Mike Layton has been a city councilor since 2010.
Photo: Radio-Canada
Like his father, he could have success by making the leap to another political level, believes the professor of political science at McMaster University.
A federal MP could also decide to try his luck.
” Up North, Charlie Angus, [le député fédéral de Timmins—Baie James]is not quite on the same wavelength as Jagmeet Singh [le chef du NPD fédéral]. He may decide to go to the provincial level. »
Mr. Angus finished second in the race to succeed Thomas Mulcair, behind Mr. Singh.
Some activists also say that Mr. Singh would have more place in provincial politics because he has a better knowledge of Ontario, according to Peter Graefe.
The political scientist, however, believes that this scenario is very unlikely.
With information from Elsie Miclisse, Francis Beaudry and CBC
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca