With a warm welcome in Nanaimo, Tenille Johnston, a Campbell River city councilor and former social worker, took center stage to explain why she’s entering the federal NDP’s leadership race.

“We live in a country where housing is unaffordable, our health care system is underfunded, and that’s why I’m running to lead the New Democratic Party, because I believe that the NDP is ready for a new era,” she said Oct. 8.

The now 38-year-old ran for the NDP in April’s federal election in the North Island Powell river riding, losing to conservative Aaron Gunn by six per cent of the vote. Party leader Jagmeet Singh resigned after losing his seat in Burnaby central setting up this leadership contest.

Union leader Rob Ashton, Alberta, MP, Heather McPherson and documentarian Avi Lewis are already in

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