OTTAWA — Tensions escalated in the New Democratic Party (NDP) leadership race on Wednesday night as candidate Avi Lewis criticized rival Heather McPherson for her use of the term "purity test." Lewis expressed his disapproval during a media scrum following the first candidates' forum of the campaign, which was hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress in Ottawa.
Lewis stated, "I don’t believe in using language that the right uses to slam the left. I don’t believe in using that against each other on the left." His comments came in response to McPherson's repeated references to the term when discussing the party's challenges in broadening its appeal.
In her defense, McPherson maintained that she would continue to use the term. "There has been a problem where we’ve made politics small, we’ve excluded people from our party... and every single part of me wants to make that bigger party so that people see themselves there. And that means everybody," she said.
McPherson had previously emphasized the need for the party to be more inclusive during her campaign launch in late September. She stated, "We need to stop shrinking into some sort of purity test, we need to stop pushing people away and we need to invite people in."
However, her choice of words sparked concern among some party members. NDP MP Leah Gazan expressed her discomfort on social media, stating, "When I hear a leadership candidate suggest that you have to pass a ‘purity test’ to fit into the NDP, I am appalled and deeply disappointed." Gazan, who identifies as part of marginalized communities, argued that such framing often dismisses calls for justice from these groups.
Gazan further criticized McPherson's language, suggesting it could imply a preference for prioritizing "white, male and able-bodied workers" within the party.
In addition to Lewis and McPherson, Rob Ashton, a longshoreman and union leader from British Columbia, is also vying for the leadership. Ashton indicated he might support lifting the federal moratorium on coastal tanker traffic if there is clear backing for shipping heavy oil along British Columbia’s northern coast.
The first official NDP leadership debate is scheduled for next month in Montreal, where candidates will have the opportunity to further discuss their platforms and address the party's future.