Our Meeting with Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP

In mid-January, the OLIP interns had the pleasure of meeting with Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party and MPP for Davenport, for an engaging discussion on leadership, representation, and political engagement. 

MPP Stiles reflected on her upbringing and educational path, including her time in St. John’s, and shared how growing up outside of Toronto shaped her understanding of how decisions at Queen’s Park do not always reflect the realities of communities across the province. We learned about how she balances her role as a critic with the needs of her local riding, noting that this balance has allowed her to better connect with regional issues across the province. 

She also spoke candidly about the challenges of leadership, including responding to diverse rural and urban concerns, transitioning from MPP to Party Leader, fostering cross-collaboration, and addressing low voter turnout and the perception that individual votes do not matter. MPP Stiles emphasized the importance of diversity and perspective in politics, sharing that meaningful connection often comes from “the door you do not see right away.” 

Our conversation also touched on the growing importance of social media for the Ontario NDP, as well as the need for clear communication, effective debate, and genuine listening. MPP Stiles discussed the importance of balancing external advice with her own instincts, emphasizing the need to trust one’s gut in order to communicate in a way that feels authentic. 

The interns sincerely thank MPP Stiles for taking the time to meet with us and for generously sharing her insights and experiences!