"I am running to lead the federal NDP because there is a moment of opportunity in federal politics unlike any other seen for a long time and we must seize it together." - Nathan Cullen
Nathan Cullen’s life and political experience has made him understand there is more that unites Canadians than keeps us apart. While he is the longest-serving MP running for leader, his road to Parliament took him about as far away from Ottawa as you can get.
This road helped him learn Spanish and French.
Nathan grew up in Toronto and attended university in Peterborough and Waterloo, Ontario. After graduating, he worked abroad, in Africa and South America, helping communities come together—by establishing women’s shelters, financial services and the basic infrastructure most Canadians take for granted.
After returning to Canada, Nathan settled in Smithers, a town of about 6,000 people in beautiful northwestern British Columbia. There, he started a successful small business that took him across B.C., working with First Nations, government, not-for-profit organizations and other businesses. Through this, he learned the value and effectiveness of working together to create solutions.
In 2003, Nathan decided he’d heard enough from his local Conservative MP. So he ran for the NDP in the riding of Skeena—Bulkley Valley, which is about the size of Norway. He won the 2004 election—making him the only leadership candidate to defeat a Tory MP. By working with others, and taking a new approach to politics, Nathan has increased his margin of victory in each of the three elections since.
In Parliament, Nathan enjoys a reputation of being able to work with MPs of many political stripes. The NDP’s former environment and natural resources critic, he introduced the bill that led to the only serious, all-party discussion of a real plan to fight climate change.
When the NDP became the official opposition, Nathan was named chair of the Commons committee on ethics.
Nathan lives in Smithers, with his wife Diana, and twin sons, Isaac and Elliot.
