‘I have to do better,’ says NDP leader Marit Stiles Artwork

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Closer Look - Insightful, credible, unfiltered conversations that matter

‘I have to do better,’ says NDP leader Marit Stiles

October 08, 2025 • Village Media Inc.

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Marit Stiles is still the face of the Ontario NDP after surviving a leadership review at her party’s September convention.

But she is the first to admit that the result — 68 per cent support — wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement.

“I’m not satisfied with that, and the message I got very clearly in talking to NDP members at our convention a couple weeks ago was people want to defeat Doug Ford in the next election, and they were not happy that we weren't able to do that in that snap election,” Stiles said today, during an interview on Village Media’s Closer Look podcast. “I think they understand what we were up against, but they need us to do better…We have to do better. I have to do better.”

Stiles spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Sault Ste. Marie, where local MPP Chris Scott was recently booted from Premier Doug Ford’s PC caucus after police charged him with spousal assault. Now sitting as an Independent MPP, Scott has faced numerous calls to resign in order to pave the way for a by-election.

“I do think he should resign,” Stiles told the podcast. “And I don't say that lightly. Those are very serious allegations and charges. But you know, really importantly — and this is what I'm hearing as I've been in town — is the people of Sault Ste. Marie need somebody who's there right now fighting for them.”

Stiles also had some things to say about The Trillium’s latest scoop surrounding the Ford government’s controversial Skills Development Fund.

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