Rob Ashton

Rob Ashton
Ashton in 2025
Born	Robert Tyler Earle Ashton
Occupation	Longshoreman
Organization(s)	International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada
Known for	President of ILWU Canada; candidate in the 2026 NDP leadership election
Political party	New Democratic
Website	robashton.ca

Robert Tyler Earle Ashton is a Canadian longshoreman and labour union leader who has been the president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada since 2016. A member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Ashton is a candidate in the 2026 leadership election. ^{[1] [2]}

Early life and career

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] [5]}

NDP leadership campaign

On October 1, 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. ^{[6] [2] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]} 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] [6] [2]} During the campaign, Ashton criticized fellow candidate Avi Lewis, stating that his style of leadership would "divide" the party. ^[12] On January 12, 2026, Ashton apologized for using generative artificial intelligence to respond to questions in a Reddit AMA, explaining that he had been on the road and had asked staffers to draft answers for him to review, but he had not been able to review all the answers. ^[13]

Electoral record

Political party leadership elections

2026 New Democratic Party leadership election

Candidate		First ballot
		Votes	%
	Rob Ashton
	Tanille Johnston
	Avi Lewis
	Heather McPherson
	Tony McQuail
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters		TBD
Source: v t e

References

1. Legree, Davis (October 1, 2025). "Labour leader Rob Ashton looks to 'shake up' NDP leadership contest". iPolitics. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
2. Savage, Luke (October 19, 2025). "Rob Ashton, Longshoreman vs. Canada's Political Class". Jacobin. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
3. "Mr. Robert Ashton (President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada)". OpenParliament. April 11, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
4. "'I've had enough': dockworker and labour leader Rob Ashton wants to lead the federal NDP". Prince Albert Daily Herald. October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
5. "'We're All Getting Screwed. I've Had Enough'". The Tyee. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
6. Phan Nay, Isaac (October 6, 2025). "'We're All Getting Screwed. I've Had Enough'—A Tyee Q&A with Rob Ashton". The Tyee. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
7. "NDP leadership forum will see 5 candidates make their pitches". Global News. October 22, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
8. "NDP leadership candidates pitch 'straight-talk' solutions, valuing the base and inclusion to labour leaders at first forum". The Hill Times. October 22, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
9. "NDP members will choose their next leader in March 2026". New Democratic Party of Canada. July 11, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
10. "NDP releases official rules for leadership race to replace Singh". CityNews Winnipeg. July 25, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
11. Baxter, David (July 11, 2025). "NDP leadership to begin in September, new leader chosen no later than March 29". CHVN Radio (Canadian Press). Retrieved October 23, 2025.
12. https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/ndp-leadership-race-heats-up-as-rob-ashton-accuses-avi-lewis-of-dividing-the-party/article_062e030e-0b6f-46c3-9bce-c27fe0382a49.html
13. Thurton, Rob (January 13, 2026). "NDP leadership candidate apologizes for using AI to respond to Reddit questions". CBC News . Retrieved January 13, 2026.