NDP Leadership Race – Email from Tony McQuail to NDP Members – 07 Nov 2025

Crunch time is upon us, my friends!

Help in whichever way works best for you!
I’m Tony McQuail, and I’m running for the NDP Leadership because we need a new strategy and tactics to deal with the first past the post electoral system which, for over 100 years, has been keeping the 99% from getting adequate representation ever since they got the vote following the first World War.

We need to build a green progressive movement that can speak to the challenges of our time – Ecological Collapse and Obscene Inequality. 

We need to speak in ways that rural Canadians understand. We need to see every riding as important and build from the ground up.  We need to cooperate and build coalitions to present a united front for the transition to an equitable and regenerative Canada.

Crunch time is upon us. The next $25,000 instalment of the NDP Leadership Fee is due on November 14th, and soon after that, the next. The leadership entry fee is a grand total of $100,000.

My friends, we are running a grassroots, frugal campaign that’s building from the ground up. I am encouraged by the number of volunteers, across all ages, who are joining the campaign. We’ve got momentum.

We have raised over half the money for the next instalment. If you want a rural and progressive green voice in this race, I’m going to need your help to stay on the ballot.

Chip in what you can!
Or sign my nomination papers!

A little bit about me

I’m a parent, grandparent, a farmer, and I’ve been a New Democrat for 45 years working in a rural Ontario riding (Huron–Bruce).

I’ve been a membership secretary, provincial council delegate, riding president, riding secretary and served as campaign manager on many campaigns.  I was the federal candidate for Huron–Bruce in 1980, 1988, 1993, 2008 and 2019 and a provincial candidate in 1982 and 1999.

I served as the Executive Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Agriculture in the 1990 Ontario NDP Government. I was elected to 3 terms as a school board trustee AFTER my rural neighbours knew I was a New Democrat. 

 
Check out my website!
 
Sign up to volunteer!
Over the years, I helped organize “field mice” campaigns where activists from several rural ridings would come together to sign up new members. (The party was doing PAC Rat campaigns in urban areas at the time – PAC stands for Pre-Authorized Checking monthly membership donations.)

That field mouse work helped strengthen our rural riding and contributed to Paul Klopp’s winning campaign in the 1990 Ontario Provincial campaign which my wife, Fran, and I managed.

Help me raise the $100,000 entry fee!

Here are my 4 R’s

My campaign is centered around Representation, Regeneration, Redistribution and Redesign. 

The first of these is Representation because until we implement proportional representation, we will make very little progress while the wealthy 1% with the Liberals and Conservatives hold the levers of Government. 

The second is Regeneration because unless we stop damaging and start healing our life support system, Mother Earth, we are just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. 

 
Redistribution because the 1% and our tax system have been very good at concentrating wealth – It is time to build a distributive economy. 

Redesign because we need to work with communities across Canada to develop ways to use less, share and enjoy more. 

I invite you to get involved in this campaign, in whichever way works best for you. 

Help in whichever way works best for you!
Be well and stay well,

Tony McQuail

 
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