Ashton to have twins after NDP picks leader

NDP leadership hopeful Niki Ashton says she is expecting twins in early November, shortly after her party selects a successor to Tom Mulcair.

Ashton said Wednesday she is looking at a threemonth leave available to her as an MP, though she plans to remain engaged in her work and remain in Ottawa should she become the party’s new leader.

She also has yet to determine whether an interim leader in the House of Commons would be needed during that period.

Ashton said she believes much media attention has been paid to her pregnancy, but she hopes Canadians will also hear about her policy positions.

“I would recognize there is a uniqueness to it, but ... it also reflects a bias that often comes up with covering women in politics — an immense amount of attention on one’s personal life, appearances rather than the substance,” she said Wednesday.

“In the work that we’ve done across the country, the events we’ve hosted, there are many, many good wishes and also sharing of advice on pregnancy,” she said, adding conversations swiftly move into how to get the NDP on track to “fighting the issues that matter.”

An alternative leader would also be a serious consideration for the party should Jagmeet Singh win the leadership.

Earlier this month, the Ontario legislator told The Canadian Press he’s strongly considering waiting until 2019 to seek a seat in the House.

“I would be happy to spend the time while I am not a sitting member to campaign across the country, to get to know the issues, to get know the different ridings ... spending that time speaking with people, reaching out to them,” he said, adding this move would be reminiscent of late leader Jack Layton.

Layton became leader in 2003, but he did not seek a seat in the Commons until the federal election the following year.

Singh, Ashton and rivals Ontario MP Charlie Angus and Quebec MP Guy Caron are preparing for a Frenchlanguage debate Sunday in Montreal.

The final debate will be held in Vancouver Sept. 10, a little over a week before NDP members start casting ballots online Sept. 18. Ashton said she plans to appear at this debate by video, due to flying restrictions that apply at that point in her pregnancy, adding the party has been accommodating.

“We are exploring different technical options that would allow her to participate from a distance, but the exact form that this participation will take is unclear at this point,” NDP National Director Robert Fox said in a statement.