In 1958, after the fall of the CCF, grassroots renewal gave birth to the New Democratic Party. In 1993, following another electoral collapse, the NDP launched the 1995 Renewal Initiative that brought members together in hundreds of meetings across Canada, leading to major reforms and policy directions that carried the Party forward.
Today, we stand at a similar crossroads. The 2025 election was the worst in our history, and the need for rebuilding is greater than ever. At a time where staff resources are limited, our party needs help. That is why the 2026 NDP Renewal Initiative was founded by activists and is powered entirely by volunteers.
The NDP Renewal Initiative is not just about restoring a party, it’s about reigniting the progressive movement in Canada. We want to rebuild the political home for those who believe in equality, equity, democracy, sustainability, solidarity, and cooperation.
Through surveys, discussions, and town halls with past voters, members, unions, civil society, and riding associations, we are working toward a package of proposals to be debated at the 2026 Convention in Winnipeg. These will set out clear values, policies, and structural reforms to chart a bold new course for the NDP’s future.
The foundation of Renewal starts with the membership. We intend to ask the tough questions and hold the transparent debates needed to rebuild our Party. Our results will be shared with members, affiliates, and allies, because the NDP belongs to all of us.
Join us in shaping a stronger, more just NDP — one where no one is left behind, and everyone has a voice. Together, we can renew and rebuild.
1. Take our survey - Please take a few minutes to complete our Post-2025 Election Federal NDP Support & Direction Survey.
2. Share your story - Everyone has a story. We would like to know yours. What brought you to the NDP?
3.Endorse the NDP Renewal Initiative
4.Volunteer for NDP Renewal – Help us renew the Party by joining NDP Renewal.
5.Join the NDP - If you are not a member, there is no better time to join than now.
6. Connect Locally- Sign up and let us connect you with the NDP Electoral Association in your community.
7. Volunteer with your local EDA - If you have a couple of hours a week, or even a month, volunteer locally and make some new friends that share your values.
8. Debate what should be in our next platform on Discourse.
9. Host a discussion group - What should Renewal resolutions bring to debate at our convention next March? What should our next Platform commit to?
10. Tell us what you want to see in the NDP! Email us at [email protected] or text us at (778) 562-7756.
Many important reviews and documents have been published over the years, but they are often hard to find. One of our strategic goals for NDP Renewal is to create a Knowledge Base for and by NDP members.
We have collected many of them and uploaded them here: Historical Documents.
This is your Knowledge Base. Help us build it by sending documents you would like to share with the NDP Community at info@ndprenewal.ca
"Those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it."
The last major renewal of the NDP was done after we lost Official Party Status after the 1993 federal Election. The Renewal Committee spent a year engaging with NDP members from across Canada to hear from the grassroots what needed to change.
From riding associations, clubs, affiliates, and allied organizations from across the country, the committee gathered over 1,200 submissions which informed the 1995 Renewal Report.
Based on the Renewal Report, the 1995 Federal Convention approved significant Constitutional changes updating our Party's Principles, Mission, Structure and Relations.
The convention also approved major policy initiatives on Globalization, the Economy and Social Policy.
Why this matters today:
On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Winnipeg Declaration, we believe the 1995 Renewal Document is the starting point for forming a new foundation in 2026 to renew our Party, and can serve as an example of what is possible if we commit the necessary time and resources to renewing our Party.
At our March 2026 Convention, as we did in 1995, we can do more than just choose a new Leader, we can choose to renew our Party.
Welcome to our virtual kitchen table discussion. We are starting things off with our survey:
The purpose of our initial survey is to better understand who our current and past supporters are, why some past supporters may have chosen to leave, and what factors influence the level of support and involvement among current supporters.
What values and priorities draw people to the NDP — or push them away
Whether our current direction aligns with the expectations of supporters
How we can build a more inclusive, effective, and representative party moving forward
Your honest feedback will help shape the future of the federal NDP. Responses will not be posted publicly without your consent.
COMING SOON!
This will be open place for public discourse on how to renew Canada's NDP.
Our plan is to engage NDP members from coast, to coast, to coast in a comprehensive discussion on our Party's structure, policies and our next platform.
Discourse is sort of like a cross between Reddit and Discord, but with a bunch more engagement and moderation tools.
Comments will be moderated to reduce trolling, hate and disinformation.
Discourse is also designed to create community and a knowledge base of ideas. For more information, go to discourse.org.
IN THE MEAN TIME ...
Have an idea? Want to provoke a discussion?
Please recommend discussion topics to [email protected].
NDP Renewal is not endorsing or opposing any leadership candidate in the upcoming leadership selection. Our entire focus is bottom-up, grassroots Renewal of our Party.
An overview of rules governing the 2026 Leadership Contest and Important dates can be found, here.
You can find the complete rules governing the 2026 leadership contest at:
www.ndp.ca/sites/default/files/2026-leadershipgoverningrules.pdf
What values and qualities are you looking for in our new leader?
What life experience and political experience do you think is required to by our leader?
Is electability the most important factor is choosing a leader?
Is our modern leader centred approached the best way to win the most seats in an election?
Is fluent bilingualism important?
Let us know by taking our leadership survey by clicking here.
Register for Forum, HERE
What to Expect
This will be a fast paced 60-minute online engagement forum with multiple ways for you to both listen to others and share your ideas on how to renew and rebuild our Party.
The forum will be co-host by Peter Julian, former MP for New Westminster–Burnaby, Leah Gazan, MP for Winnipeg Centre, and Matthew Green, former MP for Hamilton Centre. They will share some of their ideas, but most of the forum will be dedicated to hearing from you.
During the 60 minute forum we will have two 15 minute discussion sessions with 10 speakers for one minute each. Speakers will be given a warning when their one minute is about to end and will be muted after one minute to respect the time for other speakers.
While folks are speaking we encourage you to comment and communicate with each other in the Chat. Zoom chat will be fully enabled, but folks who are not speaking will be mute.
We will also be introducing an engagement tool called Polis during the forum which will allow everyone to weigh in on whether they agree or disagree with a number of policy statements … or share their own perspective for the group to agree or disagree on.
At the end of the forum we will also be launching an extensive online Policy Survey as the first phase of an engagement process to create and build consensus for a series of resolutions for our NDP National Convention in Winnipeg next March. We will also be conducting a number of in person forums across the country and will be looking for volunteers to help us make this happen.
Link to volunteer for NDP Renewal
We will make this forum a safe space for public discourse. Discrimination and Harassment will not be tolerated.
The NDP Renewal Initiative as a Third Party does not support or oppose any NDP leadership candidate. Please refrain from promoting or opposing any leadership candidate in this forum in the chat, on pol.is, when you speak or visually.
Like the NDP Renewal Initiative, and our Policy Survey, this forum is inspired by the 1995 NDP Renewal Report and Resolutions that helped renew and rebuild our Party after we lost Official Party status in 1993.
The 1995 NDP Renewal Report was grouped into three main areas:
We highly encourage you to review this document online before the forum Sunday.
Join us as we chart a bold new course for the NDP, together, from the grassroots up.
The NDP belongs to all of us. Together, we can renew and rebuild.
