The New Democratic Party of Canada is making leadership changes within its party structure in preparation for the upcoming elections.

Ann McGrath, the long-time National Director of the New Democrats, has stepped down from her position as party leader. McGrath will move to work as chief secretary to the party leader in the House of Commons, Jagmeet Singh.

Also, according to a party press release, McGrath will play a larger role in overseeing progress on the supply and confidence agreement signed by the New Democratic Party with the Liberals led by Justin Trudeau.

In March 2022, the agreement between the New Democrats and the Liberals obligated the latter to comply with key New Democrat demands in exchange for their votes to approve key parts of the Liberal government’s legislative program.

This agreement, set to expire in 2025, still has aspects that need to be fulfilled, including passing legislation that could lay the groundwork for expanding drug coverage for more Canadians, known as pharmacare.

The National Director of the New Democratic Party is the executive director of the party and its operations at party headquarters: the Jack Layton building in downtown Ottawa. They are also responsible for overseeing fundraising, recruitment, and strategic planning for the party.

Their duties also include building and maintaining relationships inside and outside the party with the Executive Council, the party’s federal organization, regional parties, labor unions, and the youth wing.

The National Director also works closely with New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh and his 24 deputies, often attending weekly meetings of New Democratic MPs in the Parliament building in Ottawa.

The person who will replace Ann McGrath as National Director of the party is the veteran member Lucy Watson, who rose through the ranks of the country’s largest student organization, the Canadian Federation of Students. She has also held several senior positions within the party in British Columbia, Ontario, as well as within the federal New Democratic structure.