As the NDP’s leadership contenders gear up for their first debate in Montreal on November 27, one thing is clear: the real challenge may not be ideological it’s linguistic.
None of the five official candidates Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, Rob Ashton, Tanille Johnston, or Tony McQuail claims to be fluently bilingual. Yet, in a country with two official languages, and in a party that once rode an “orange wave” across Quebec, the ability to speak French isn’t a minor skill it’s a political necessity.
Avi Lewis, the documentarian and British Columbia native, seems the most comfortable switching to French, at least conversationally. He’s acknowledged that being bilingual is essential for any federal leader and admits the difficulty of learning French from the West Coast, far from the country’s francophone heart. Still, he’s committed and that counts for something.
Heather McPherson, the Alberta MP, has been candid about her limitations. She doesn’t speak French very well, but she’s working on it daily, practising with her daughter and immersing herself in French news. It’s a humble and relatable approach, one that shows respect for the language and those who speak it.
Union leader Rob Ashton has been even more blunt, joking about his weak French but emphasizing his determination to improve. With francophones on his campaign team and plans for intensive lessons, Ashton seems to understand what’s at stake.
Then there’s Tony McQuail, the organic farmer who plans to speak both official languages in his opening and closing statements at the debate. It’s a symbolic gesture, but symbolism matters in politics especially in Quebec. The Canadian Press hasn’t yet heard from Tanille Johnston’s camp, but her efforts to learn French will likely come under scrutiny as the debate nears.
Former NDP strategist Karl Bélanger is right to warn that no matter how progressive your platform is, it won’t resonate if voters can’t understand you. “You can have all the right issues,” he said, “but if you’re not able to talk to people in their language, you won’t connect.”
That connection or lack of it was a defining factor in the party’s past success. The NDP’s 2011 “orange wave” in Quebec propelled them to official opposition status for the first and only time. It was Jack Layton’s charisma, his comfort in both languages, and his ability to make Quebecers feel heard that made the difference.
Today, the NDP’s lone Quebec MP, Alexandre Boulerice, is watching closely. He’s made it clear that French fluency and an understanding of Quebec’s unique issues will shape his eventual endorsement. “We will measure the success of their learnings at the end of November,” he said pointedly.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s less-than-perfect French may have “lowered the bar,” as Bélanger put it, but the bar is still there and none of the NDP hopefuls have reached it yet. For a party that dreams of forming government again, that should be a wake-up call.
If the NDP truly wants to rebuild its bridge to Quebec, it can’t just rely on progressive values or national policies. It must reconnect in the language that defines the province’s identity. As history shows that connection can make or break a movement.
The November 27 debate won’t just test the candidates’ French it will test whether the NDP is ready to be a truly national party again.
