Overview
- The five candidates made final pitches Saturday at the Winnipeg convention as members finish ranked-ballot voting, with the winner to be announced Sunday morning.
- Energy set a dividing line in those speeches, with Avi Lewis urging a rapid shift off oil and gas and Heather McPherson warning that stance hands opponents attack lines after Alberta’s NDP released a pro‑pipeline plan Friday.
- Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew told delegates to focus on winning first and to center affordability and health care before taking on bigger policy wishes.
- Campaign filings and endorsements place Lewis at the front of the pack, with backing from MP Leah Gazan and environmentalist David Suzuki, while Rob Ashton leans on labour support and McPherson stresses electability.
- Party president Lucy Watson said the NDP still owes about $13 million and delegates are weighing a year‑round organizing model to rebuild ridings, as an Angus Reid poll reports low recognition for the contenders and doubts about the party’s relevance.