A union leader from British Columbia has entered the federal NDP leadership competition, positioning himself as a candidate in tune with the concerns of working individuals. Rob Ashton, the head of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, has officially declared his candidacy for the next leader of the New Democratic Party. His campaign highlights him as “the initial labour candidate representing the working class” in the federal NDP leadership race.
In an interview with CBC News prior to his announcement, Ashton acknowledged his reputation for being a candid voice in Canada’s labor movement. He emphasized his straightforward communication style, stating, “I speak as I do at work. I won’t deceive you. I’m sincere. I will tell you the truth because I’m tired of politicians feeding workers lies.”
Ashton was among the few NDP members who publicly predicted a poor election outcome in April, foreseeing challenges after the party supported the Liberals under the supply-and-confidence agreement with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He expressed concerns in February to CBC News that New Democrats were facing difficulties as workers were gravitating towards the Conservative Party.
Joining the race alongside Edmonton MP Heather McPherson, former journalist Avi Lewis, and political activist Yves Engler, Ashton aims to succeed former leader Jagmeet Singh, who resigned following the party’s disappointing election performance, resulting in only seven MPs.
Criticizing both the Conservatives and Liberals for their treatment of workers, Ashton emphasized their tendency to make promises during elections but fail to bring meaningful change. He stressed the importance of protecting Canadian jobs and industries while advocating for taxing the wealthy instead of burdening the working class.
Although Ashton did not disclose many specifics about his campaign policies, he emphasized the NDP’s need to prioritize labor interests. With a background of three decades as a longshoreman, including significant representation of dock workers in B.C., he asserted his understanding of the challenges faced by the populace and his commitment to steering the NDP back to its core values centered on labor.
The original source of this article can be found [here](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-leadership-rob-ashton-1.7647767).
