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Rob Ashton | |
|---|---|
 Ashton in 2025 | |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | Trade unionist; politician |
| Organization(s) | International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada |
| Known for | President of ILWU Canada; candidate in the 2026 NDP leadership election |
Robert Tyler Earle Ashton is a Canadian trade unionist who serves as president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada. In October 2025, he announced his candidacy in the 2026 New Democratic Party leadership election. [1] [2]
Ashton worked as a longshore worker for decades and rose through union ranks, including service as a business agent for ILWU Local 500 and later as vice president of ILWU Canada, before being elected president in 2016. In testimony to the House of Commons in 2024, he described ILWU Canada as representing roughly 16,000 workers across British Columbia and Saskatchewan. [3] [4]
Ashton is the president of ILWU Canada, a national labour union representing primarily dockworkers in ports and related sectors. [5] [6]
On 1 October 2025, Ashton launched his campaign for the federal NDP leadership, positioning himself as a "working-class" candidate focused on affordability, labour rights, and rebuilding domestic industry, including Canadian shipbuilding. [1] [4] He has argued the party should "put workers back in charge" and increase taxes on the wealthy. [7] [2]
Ashton participated in the first leadership forum hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress on 22 October 2025, alongside Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, Tony McQuail and Tanille Johnston. [8] [9]
The party has scheduled the leadership vote for March 29, 2026, at its national convention in Winnipeg, following a campaign that began in September 2025. [10] [11] [12]
In interviews and campaign materials, Ashton has emphasized re-centring the NDP on its labour base, taxing the wealthy, and expanding good-paying jobs in domestic industries such as shipbuilding. [1] [7] [2]