Marit Stiles

Early Life and Pre-Political Career

Marit Stiles was born on September 20, 1969, in St. John's, Newfoundland, and grew up in the nearby communities of Long Pond and Logy Bay. Her parents were Americans from Pennsylvania who moved to Newfoundland in 1967 and established a small organic farm, raising goats, chickens, geese, rabbits and pigs. Her father was an anthropology professor at Memorial University who later worked as an energy conservation consultant in Canada and Africa. Stiles was active in synchronized swimming during her childhood alongside her younger sister Enid, who later became a veterinarian near Montreal. She first attended Memorial University before moving to Ontario in 1988 to continue her studies. Her first political involvement was in 1990 when she canvassed for Evelyn Gigantes alongside her future husband, Jordan Berger, a childhood friend.

Stiles graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. Her professional career began in the office of Timmins MPP Gilles Bisson, followed by work as a researcher for the Canadian Policy Research Networks in 1995. From 1998 to 2004, she served as a researcher for the federal NDP's Ontario caucus, developing policy expertise. In 2005, she joined the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) as the director of research, public policy and communications, advocating for workers in the cultural sector.

Entry into Elected Politics

Marit Stiles entered elected office in 2014 when she was elected as a trustee for Ward 9 of the Toronto District School Board. In this role, she helped manage the board's $3.5 billion budget, the largest in Ontario, focusing on issues affecting students and parents. Her work at the board level reinforced her view that many challenges in education originated from provincial policy decisions at Queen's Park. Concurrently, she became increasingly active within the New Democratic Party, culminating in her election as president of the federal NDP in 2016. She won that position by defeating former MPs Elaine Michaud and Djaouida Sellah. Following her election, party delegates at the 2016 convention voted to remove Tom Mulcair as leader. The party later held a leadership election in 2017, which was won by Jagmeet Singh. Stiles served as the federal party president until 2018, when she stepped down to run for provincial office.

Her experience as a Toronto District School Board trustee and as president of the federal NDP provided a foundation for her subsequent campaign for the Ontario legislature. She decided to contest the riding of Davenport in the 2018 provincial election. During her campaign, she focused on the electrification of the nearby GO Transit line and ensuring all amenities associated with the Davenport Diamond rail bridge were completed. Her candidacy marked her transition from a policy researcher and organizer to a provincial legislator.

Provincial Legislature and Rise to Leadership

In the 2018 Ontario general election, Marit Stiles ran for the NDP in the Toronto riding of Davenport. She campaigned on local issues such as the electrification of the nearby GO Transit line and the completion of amenities for the Davenport Diamond rail overpass. She defeated the incumbent Liberal MPP, Cristina Martins, becoming the riding's second NDP representative. Upon her election, Stiles was appointed as the Ontario NDP's critic for education, a portfolio she held from 2018 until 2022. In this role, she opposed the government's education cuts and advocated for increased funding and support for public schools.

Following the 2022 provincial election, NDP leader Andrea Horwath resigned after the party remained in opposition. Peter Tabuns served as interim leader while the party organized a leadership contest. Stiles announced her candidacy for the leadership on September 22, 2022, and quickly secured endorsements from eight of her fellow NDP MPPs. Her campaign platform outlined five key priorities: climate action and green jobs, true reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, strengthening workers' rights, electoral reform to replace the first-past-the-post system, and defending public services from privatization. By the December 5, 2022 deadline, Stiles was the only candidate to have met the entry requirements, which included raising a $55,000 fee, making her the leader-designate. She was formally acclaimed as leader on February 4, 2023, becoming the leader of the Official Opposition. Premier Doug Ford congratulated Stiles in a statement posted to Twitter.

Leadership of the Ontario NDP

As leader, Marit Stiles has focused on holding the Progressive Conservative government of Premier Doug Ford to account, particularly on issues of affordability, healthcare, and government integrity. A significant early challenge arose in October 2023 with the case of Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama. Stiles removed Jama from the NDP caucus after Jama allegedly failed to abide by an agreement regarding her public statements on the Gaza war and other unilateral actions. The decision divided the party, with some criticizing the delay and others criticizing the expulsion itself. In January 2025, the party initially told Jama she could seek the NDP nomination for Hamilton Centre but later barred her, forcing her to run as an independent in the subsequent election.

Stiles led the Ontario NDP into the snap election called for 2025. The party's campaign emphasized building homes, fixing healthcare, improving schools, and combating what she termed government corruption. The election results were a mixed record for her leadership. The NDP won 27 seats, maintaining its position as the Official Opposition for a third consecutive term, a first in the party's history. However, the party's share of the popular vote fell below 20 percent. Following the election, Stiles travelled across the province on a summer tour in 2025. At the party's provincial convention on September 20, 2025, she received a leadership review vote of 68 percent support from delegates.

In the legislature, Stiles has maintained an aggressive opposition stance. On November 19, 2025, she was ejected from the Legislative Assembly during question period after describing the Ford government as corrupt while criticizing its handling of the Skills Development Fund scandal. The party faced another internal shift in January 2026 when Scarborough Southwest MPP and deputy leader Doly Begum resigned her seat to run for the federal Liberal Party in a by-election. The NDP successfully held the seat in the resulting 2026 Scarborough Southwest provincial by-election, with candidate Fatima Shaban prevailing.

Looking ahead to the next provincial election, Stiles and the NDP have been working to expand their reach beyond traditional strongholds. In October 2026, the party held its caucus retreat in Peterborough, a Progressive Conservative-held riding, to engage with local volunteers and build organization. Polling at the time showed the NDP consistently in third place provincially, behind the PCs and the Liberals, prompting internal discussions about strategy and timing. Stiles has argued that polls are snapshots and that the party is building a ground game for the future, focusing on fundraising and candidate development in key ridings across Ontario.

Policy Positions and Political Platform

Marit Stiles's political platform is built on a foundation of social democracy, workers' rights, and environmental stewardship. Her policy priorities, as outlined during her leadership campaign and subsequent tenure, address a range of issues she identifies as failures of the Ford government. She advocates for significant investment in green infrastructure and the creation of jobs in sustainable industries as part of a comprehensive climate plan. Stiles calls for true reconciliation through the protection of Indigenous rights, addressing the lack of clean drinking water in First Nations communities, and reforming justice and shelter systems. A former union worker and ACTRA director, she prioritizes creating jobs where workers' safety and rights are respected, and she supports strengthening labour laws across the province.

• Climate Action and Green Economy: Stiles advocates for significant investment in green infrastructure and the creation of jobs in sustainable industries as part of a comprehensive climate plan.
• Indigenous Reconciliation: She calls for true reconciliation through the protection of Indigenous rights, addressing the lack of clean drinking water in First Nations communities, and reforming justice and shelter systems.
• Workers' Rights: A former union worker and ACTRA director, Stiles prioritizes creating jobs where workers' safety and rights are respected, and she supports strengthening labour laws.
• Electoral Reform: She is committed to moving Ontario away from the first-past-the-post electoral system to a form of proportional representation.
• Defending Public Services: Stiles strongly opposes the privatization of healthcare and education, pledging to improve and expand public healthcare, education, and social security programs.
• Housing Affordability: Her platform includes plans to build more affordable homes and protect the Greenbelt from development, an issue she highlighted in her criticism of the Ford government.

Stiles has criticized what she perceives as the Conservatives' efforts to increase privatization of government services. She has committed to improving public education, healthcare, and social security. She connects these policies to her personal narrative of growing up on a small organic farm in Newfoundland. She argues these priorities are necessary to ensure no one is left behind in Ontario's economy.

Electoral Performance

Marit Stiles's electoral record includes her own successful campaigns and the provincial results under her leadership. She was first elected as the MPP for Davenport in the 2018 Ontario election. She was re-elected in the 2022 Ontario election. She led the Ontario NDP into the snap 2025 Ontario general election. The party won 27 seats in that election, forming the Official Opposition for a third consecutive time. However, the party's vote share slipped below 20 percent in that election.

While Stiles has held her Toronto seat comfortably, the party's provincial performance in the 2025 election presented challenges. The NDP retained its position as the Official Opposition but did not gain ground on the governing Progressive Conservatives, and its share of the popular vote declined. This result has sparked ongoing debate within the party about its strategy and outreach, particularly in vote-rich areas like the Greater Toronto Area. The party's victory in the 2026 Scarborough Southwest by-election demonstrated its ability to hold seats but also highlighted the fluid nature of the political scene as it prepares for the next general election.

Personal Life and Community Ties

Marit Stiles lives in Toronto with her husband, Jordan Berger, and their two daughters. Berger, a childhood friend she reconnected with at university, ran unsuccessfully as the NDP candidate in Davenport in the 2003 provincial election, losing to Liberal Tony Ruprecht. Stiles has stated that becoming a mother deepened her commitment to fighting for issues like childcare and education. Her personal history growing up on an organic farm in Newfoundland instilled in her values of hard work and responsibility. These experiences are frequently referenced in her political communications to connect with voters on issues of economic fairness and community. Stiles maintains ties to her Newfoundland roots, having been born in St. John's. Her schedule as leader involves extensive travel across Ontario, which at times limits her availability for local campaigning. For example, she was unavailable for last-minute canvassing during the 2026 Toronto mayoral election despite endorsing Olivia Chow. She describes leadership as rolling up your sleeves and getting things done, a lesson she aims to pass on.

Questions about Marit Stiles

What is Marit Stiles's background before entering politics?

Before her election, Marit Stiles worked as a policy researcher and advocate. She held roles with the Canadian Policy Research Networks and as a researcher for the federal NDP's Ontario caucus from 1998 to 2004. From 2005, she was the director of research, public policy and communications for ACTRA, the performers' union. She also served as an elected trustee for the Toronto District School Board from 2014 to 2018, managing a $3.5 billion budget for Canada's largest school board.

How did Marit Stiles become the leader of the Ontario NDP?

Marit Stiles became leader following the resignation of Andrea Horwath after the 2022 election. She announced she would run for NDP leader on September 22, 2022. The NDP announced on December 5, 2022, that Stiles was the only candidate in the leadership election, and hence leader-designate, as no other candidates met the entry requirements, which included raising a $55,000 fee. She was formally acclaimed as leader on February 4, 2023, becoming the leader of the Official Opposition.

What are Marit Stiles's main policy priorities?

Stiles outlined five priorities during her leadership campaign. These include climate action by creating jobs in sustainable industries and investing in green infrastructure. She called for true reconciliation by protecting Indigenous rights and addressing issues like clean drinking water. Another priority is labour, focusing on creating jobs where workers' rights are respected. She also committed to reforming the province's electoral system away from first-past-the-post and to improving public education, healthcare, and social security.

How did the Ontario NDP perform under Stiles in the 2025 election?

In the snap 2025 Ontario general election, Stiles led the NDP to win 27 seats. This result meant the party formed the Official Opposition for the third consecutive time, which was a first in party history. However, the party's vote share slipped below 20 percent in that election. Following the election, Stiles received 68 percent support in a leadership review vote during the party's provincial convention on September 20, 2025.

What was the controversy involving MPP Sarah Jama?

In October 2023, Stiles removed Hamilton Centre MPP Sarah Jama from the NDP caucus. The removal followed allegations that Jama failed to abide by an agreement regarding her public statements on the Gaza war and took other unilateral actions without party endorsement. The decision caused significant division within the party. In January 2025, the party initially told Jama she could seek the NDP nomination but later barred her, forcing her to run as an independent. Some constituency associations demanded Stiles resign over the issue.

Where does Marit Stiles live and what is her family life like?

Marit Stiles lives in Toronto with her husband, Jordan Berger, and their two daughters. Berger is a childhood friend and former NDP candidate in Davenport. Stiles has a younger sister, Enid, who is a veterinarian practising near Montreal. She often references her experiences as a parent and her upbringing on a Newfoundland farm as influences on her political values and focus on community.

Sources and further reading

• Marit Stiles (Wikipedia)
• Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP (ontariondp.ca)
• Marit Stiles is taking Ontario's NDP into Tory territory. Will it ... (thestar.com)
• Stiles unavailable to canvass for Chow as Toronto election ... (globalnews.ca)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-28.