Ontario NDP to confirm Marit Stiles as new leader on Feb. 4
Posted January 5, 2023 8:49 pm.
Last Updated January 5, 2023 8:53 pm.
Ontario’s NDP have decided to move up confirmation of Marit Stiles as the new leader by one month.
Originally the party was set to hold a leadership vote on March 4 but after Stiles became the only candidate to officially seek the party leadership, the party’s Provincial Council voted Thursday to confirm her on Feb. 4.
The move would enable Stiles to replace interim leader Peter Tabuns when the legislature returns from its winter break on Feb. 21.
The confirmation vote will be a simple majority, conducted in a one-member-one-vote system weighted to 75 per cent; and votes from affiliate organizations weighted to 25 per cent, the party said in a statement.
“Ontario needs a strong NDP, and with Marit as our new leader we’ll be stronger than ever. We’ll grow our movement, build capacity in every community and offer people hope for the future,” said Ontario NDP President Janelle Brady.
Stiles, the MPP for the Toronto riding of Davenport, ran unopposed in the race to replace Andrea Horwath, who stepped down as party leader following the party’s defeat in last June’s provincial election.
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 and was backed by endorsements from eight caucus colleagues.
