Tanille Johnston officially entered the federal NDP leadership race on Wednesday (Oct. 8), telling supporters in Nanaimo she intends to lead with integrity, inclusion and inspiration.
"Like so many families across the country, I grew up in a working-class home," Johnston said. "My dad was a mine worker, and my mom ran a small business. They taught me what perseverance looked like – that if you work hard and care for your family, act with integrity, you could lead a good life.
"But today, so many Canadians are finding that that promise is a lie. We're living in a time of change and uncertainty," Johnston continued. "The cost of living has soared well beyond reason. The dream of a secure future is even more out of reach."
Johnston, a social worker, is the first-ever First Nations city councillor in Campbell River and the first Indigenous woman to run for the NDP party's leadership.
During the 2025 federal election, she ran to replace incumbent NDP MP Rachel Blaney, who served as the MP for North Island—Powell River from 2015 to 2025. She lost to Conservative Party candidate Aaron Gunn.
In her speech, Johnston talked about how Ottawa continues to focus on major projects that "poison our land and water."
"From floods to wildfires, communities are going without electricity, food, water, shelter," she said. "These struggles may seem distant to some, but they're deeply connected to what we face – a crisis of inequality, greed and corruption."
The federal NDP party is ready for a new era and a different kind of leadership, she said, adding she would fight for free post-secondary education, better healthcare access for rural and remote communities, and affordable and accessible housing.
"Change only happens when we lead with courage, hope and optimism," she said. "Together, let's bring the NDP into a new era: One that is brave, progressive, and impossible to ignore."
The official campaign rules state that candidates must pay a $100,000 entry fee and gather signatures from 500 party members to get their name on the ballot.
