Marit Stiles set to become new leader of Ontario NDP

Marit Stiles is on her way to becoming the new leader of the Ontario NDP after running unopposed in the race to replace Andrea Horwath.

Stiles, who is the MPP for the Toronto riding of Davenport, still has to face a confirmation vote, as per the party’s constitution, to be officially named the party’s leader.

Upon confirmation, she would be taking over as the leader of the Official Opposition from interim leader Peter Tabuns.

“I would have been happy to have a race,” Stiles told CityNews reporter Richard Southern on Tuesday. “[…] but I think the people were really united behind our vision.”

“We built a lot of excitement and our caucus is very unified in what we see for the future.”

The party said only Stiles met all requirements to enter the NDP leadership race, including raising a $55,000 fee and gathering 100 nominating signatures from four of six geographic regions in the province — 50 per cent from women and 25 per cent from equity-deserving NDP members including Black, Indigenous and racialized people, and people with disabilities.

Stiles’ bid was backed by endorsements from eight caucus colleagues.

“Marit Stiles will work tirelessly to end the era of Conservative cuts and privatization by running to form a government that puts working people at the heart of everything we do,” Ontario NDP President Janelle Brady said in a release on Tuesday.

“Marit can give people hope and unite the province to defeat Doug Ford — to make life affordable and rebuild and improve health care and education.”

The former school trustee has represented the Davenport riding since 2018 and served as the party’s education critic. She was the first candidate to launch her leadership bid in September.

Stiles said she hopes to change voters’ minds after the low voter turnout during the provincial election on June 2.

Although Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives cruised to another majority victory, only 43 per cent of eligible voters chose to cast a ballot. It was the lowest number ever for a provincial election in Ontario, surpassing the previous low of 48 per cent in 2011.

“What really concerned me coming out of the last election was a large number of people who didn’t vote at all. And I think part of the reason that they didn’t vote at all was because [they think] that political leaders can’t do much to help them. And I think we need to change their minds.”

Tabuns stepped in as interim leader nearly four weeks after Horwath resigned on election night.

Horwath, who served as leader of the Ontario NDP since 2009, said it was time to “pass the torch.” The decision came after the party lost nine seats in the provincial election.

With files from Michael Ranger of CityNews; and The Canadian Press