Meet the Candidates: Heather McPherson

With the federal New Democratic Party leadership race now well underway, Edmonton Strathcona MP Heather McPherson has emerged as one of the most experienced contenders seeking to lead the party into its next chapter. The race, launched in September 2025 and set to conclude with a leadership vote in March, has already featured two debates, giving party members an early look at how candidates frame the NDP's future.

In a field that includes candidates calling for sharper ideological shifts, McPherson has positioned herself as a figure of continuity, emphasizing experience, parliamentary competence, and stability. Supporters describe her as a serious legislator with a strong grasp of federal governance. Critics argue her candidacy represents an extension of the party's current direction at a time when some members are seeking a more fundamental change.

A Parliamentarian First

McPherson was first elected in 2019, winning Edmonton Strathcona and becoming the only New Democrat representing Alberta in the House of Commons. Before entering federal politics, she worked extensively in international development, including serving as executive director of the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation, where she oversaw federal funding programs and worked with non-governmental organizations on global aid initiatives.

That professional background has shaped her approach in Parliament. Since her election, McPherson has focused heavily on committee work and legislative review. As the NDP's foreign affairs critic, she has taken on files involving sanctions policy, arms exports, humanitarian assistance, and diplomatic accountability.

Colleagues and parliamentary observers often describe her as detail-oriented and methodical. She is known for preparing extensively for committee appearances and emphasizing legislative mechanics over political theatrics. Supporters argue this experience would be an asset in a minority Parliament, where procedural knowledge and negotiation are central to advancing policy.

Platform: Continuity With an Emphasis on Delivery

Heather McPherson's leadership platform presents a platform centred on rebuilding the party's electoral prospects while advancing concrete policy proposals on housing and the economy, framed around her experience as the only sitting MP in the race.

Party Renewal and Inclusivity: A cornerstone of McPherson's campaign is opening the party to broader participation. She has criticized the NDP for becoming “small and closed,” warning against “purity tests” that make working-class Canadians feel unwelcome . Her strategy focuses on rebuilding riding associations, nominating candidates earlier, and improving communication between the central party and local campaigns to make the NDP competitive again.

Housing Crisis: Housing policy is a central focus, with McPherson calling for a national housing emergency declaration to unlock federal funds. Her specific proposals include establishing a federal Crown corporation dedicated to building affordable co-op homes, providing low-interest loans for community housing providers, constructing modular housing on federal land, and creating a Homelessness Prevention Fund for emergency rent relief.

Climate and Economy: McPherson's climate platform emphasizes industrial transition and job security in energy-producing regions. She proposes building a green economy by shifting the Major Projects Office to prioritize a countrywide electricity grid and low-carbon power generation, while also ending federal subsidies for oil and gas companies.. She advocates for long-term, predictable funding to help communities build infrastructure resilient to climate-related disasters like floods and wildfires.

Foreign Policy: Drawing on her experience as the NDP's foreign affairs critic, McPherson supports stronger parliamentary oversight of arms exports and has emphasized the importance of building alliances with progressive partners in the United States to counter threats like tariffs and defend workers on both sides of the border.

Overall, her campaign emphasizes competence and continuity rather than a redefinition of party ideology.

Parliamentary Record and Criticism

McPherson’s experience in Parliament has also drawn criticism from within and outside the party.

Supply and Confidence Agreement: McPherson supported the 2022 Liberal-NDP supply and confidence agreement, which extended the Trudeau government's mandate in exchange for policy concessions, including progress on universal pharmacare. Critics argue the agreement tied the NDP too closely to Liberal shortcomings on housing and affordability, while supporters describe it as a pragmatic use of leverage in a minority Parliament.

Foreign Policy Votes: As foreign affairs critic, McPherson has supported sanctions expansions and Ukraine-related measures that have drawn criticism from some anti-war activists. Her positions on Israel and Palestine have also placed her at the centre of debate, attracting criticism from those who feel her motions on Palestine were little more than performative, unproductive gestures.

Electoral Reform: McPherson has previously expressed skepticism toward ranked-choice voting, arguing it could entrench Liberal dominance. This position has been controversial among New Democrats who support electoral reform as a way to address vote splitting under the current system.

Trade-Related Legislation: McPherson has supported portions of trade legislation she argued strengthened labour and environmental standards, a stance that has drawn criticism from party members who believe the NDP should take a more uniformly oppositional approach to trade agreements.

These positions have reinforced perceptions that McPherson represents the party’s institutional wing.

Support and Opposition Within the Party

Supporters describe McPherson as a steady and credible leader with a deep understanding of parliamentary process. Some organizers and members argue that legislative competence and discipline are essential if the NDP hopes to translate policy goals into concrete results.

“She understands how Parliament works,” said one Edmonton-based NDP organizer. “That matters if the goal is actually delivering outcomes, not just messaging.”

Critics counter that the party;s recent approach has failed to significantly expand its electoral base. They argue that McPherson's leadership would reinforce a technocratic style associated with recent NDP leadership rather than offering a clear break from past strategies.

A Race About Direction

As the leadership campaign moves into its final month, McPherson's candidacy underscores a broader debate within the NDP: whether the party should prioritize administrative credibility and incremental gains, or pursue a more ambitious reorientation of its political identity.

McPherson has consistently emphasized practicality, experience, and parliamentary effectiveness. Other candidates have argued that a bolder approach is needed to energize voters and distinguish the party more sharply.

Heather McPherson entered the NDP leadership race as one of its most experienced contenders, offering a vision centred on continuity, legislative competence, and pragmatic social democracy. With voting set for March and the campaign already marked by multiple debates, party members face a choice between stability and change.

Whether McPherson's approach represents a path forward for growth or a continuation of the challenges that have constrained the party in recent years will ultimately be decided by the membership in the weeks ahead.