Don Davies grilled on excluding “cis men” from NDP Leadership nomination process

Federal NDP interim leader Don Davies is defending new party rules requiring that at least half of all leadership nomination signatures come from people other than “cisgender” men.

Source: Facebook

Federal NDP interim leader Don Davies is defending new party rules requiring that at least half of all leadership nomination signatures come from people other than “cisgender” men.

In an interview with CTV’s Vassy Kapelos on Sunday, Davies said that limiting the “cis” male vote for more than 50 per cent of the required 500 nominations for the new NDP leadership is about making sure “everyone is included” in the democratic process of his party.

A “cis man” is defined as a man who “identifies” as the gender they were born as.

Kapelos pressed Davies, pointing out that the rule appears to contradict his past criticism that the NDP leaned “too far” into identity politics in the last election. She said official rules limiting cisgender men’s nominations could send a negative message to the party’s base.

Davies rejected the characterization, claiming there’s a difference between identity politics and “inclusion.”

“Inclusion is a very, very vital component of our leadership race, and it’s the way that you’re going to get diverse policies and include as many people from all walks of life in this country in the very important decisions we’re going to have to make moving forward,” Davies said. “This is just to make sure that there is a deliberate attempt to reach out to marginalized groups, people that are often left out of the process, so that we can bring people in, and that doesn’t take away rights from anybody.”

Source: YouTube (CTV News)

Davies compared the requirements to regional quotas in other parties, calling the NDP’s approach an expansion to include gender, age and identity.

“I think it is critically important, especially again, if you talk to young people today who are having great difficulty finding jobs, home ownership is out of the question for them. They’re worried about their futures,” he said. “I think having leadership candidates have to reach out to those people and engage them in discussion and include them in the political process is really important.”

According to the leadership contest rules, a minimum of 100 nominations “must be from members of equity-seeking groups, including but not limited to racialized members, Indigenous members, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and persons living with disabilities.”

The rules further note that at least 10 per cent of the total required signatures must come from “young New Democrats” at the time the signatures are collected. Elections Canada defines youth voters as those aged 18 to 24.

Like other parties, regional requirements stipulate that each candidate must have at least 50 signatures from residents in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, British Columbia and the territories.

Kapelos grilled Davies, noting that including young people is one thing, but telling older NDP supporters that their vote might not be counted has a “negative connotation” and “sends a message” to the NDP base.

Davies said that those voters can still cast their nomination, although it might not be counted.

“With respect, that interpretation is wrong. There is no don’t or can’t as many people that want to nominate can. You (can) get 3000 nominations. This is just that a minimum of 500 required have to come from a certain group,” he said. “It’s of the 500, right? Of the 500 required signatures, a certain percentage have to be (non-cis men), but beyond that, anybody can nominate, so everybody is included and welcome in the NDP.”

The NDP Leadership race began last Tuesday and will run until March 28, 2026. Voting members will be given a preferential ballot where they rank the potential candidates in their preferred order.

The new leader will be announced during the NDP’s national convention in Winnipeg on March 29, 2026.