What to know
- Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles posted a Zohran Mamdani–inspired fundraising video, calling on supporters to help the party reach its donation goals.
- The video drew mixed reactions online, with some praising its visibility and humour, while others criticized it for lacking policy substance.
- Stiles highlighted the need to compete with Doug Ford’s well-funded campaign and reminded donors of tax benefits, using both serious and playful examples of how contributions would be used.
Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles has people talking after she posted a fundraising video inspired by New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
“If you think this looks like a Zohran Mamdani fundraising video, you’d be right,” Stiles wrote on a post including a fundraising video.
“I’m in Sudbury, North Bay, Algoma-Manitoulin! And honestly, I’m freezing,” Stiles says in the video, which includes clips of her standing in the snow in each location.
“You know what would warm my heart? Crushing our December fundraising targets,” she continues.
In the video, Stiles admits to copying Mamdani’s style of calling for donations, saying that she has to.
“Because Doug Ford increased the individual donation limit by 47 per cent, so his insiders who pay to play can get even more influence,” she explains.
Stiles was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2018, serving as the Member of Provincial Parliament for the province’s Davenport riding. She has been leader of the Ontario NDP and the Official Opposition since 2023.
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In the clip, she claims that the NDP has more donors than the Conservative and Liberal parties combined, but added that the New Democrats are still being outfundraised four times over.
“In the last election Doug Ford spent double what we did, double. So if we want to be competitive, we have to crush our fundraising targets starting now.”
She explained that donors get up to 75 cents for every dollar donated when they file their taxes.
“You donate, you get most of it back, everybody wins. Except for Doug Ford, that’s the point.”
The video ends with a list of things that donations help the party to achieve, including organizing volunteers, conducting research, party registration and renewal, creating brochures and advertising. It also includes some more tongue-in-cheek uses for the money, including “Calling out Doug Ford’s B.S.,” “A happy retirement card for David Piccini,” and to “Hold a sweet sixteen for the Eglinton LRT.”
ONTARIANS REACT TO MAMDANI-STYLE VIDEO
Online, some people are sharing their thoughts on the video, with many feeling Stiles missed the mark.
“And just like that we see why Ford continues to win,” one X user posted.
While others are critiquing Stiles for the actual content of the clip.
“The Zohran phenomenon is about far more than videos full of jump cuts. Sad, but not surprising, to see Marit Stiles to seize on the style and not the substance here,” one person shared on X.
“1.5 min video begging for money and did not include a single second of what you would do for the public, not sure you’re capturing Mamdani’s essence,” another person commented.
“I’d be more inclined if she said why I should donate to her? Sure, she’s not Doug Ford. That’s a plus off the bat. But, what are the policies of the NDP?” a Redditor questioned. “You can use buzzwords like affordability, but give me the tangible actions you’ll do that’ll make my life easier. Then, and only then, will I donate”
Meanwhile, others like her strategy.
“The NDP has done more for exposure and calling Doug Ford out on media outlets in the last few months than throughout the whole provincial election process,” one Redditor commented, adding that the next provincial election needs a real opposition party, and politicians with real plans to address issues like public healthcare and education.
“This visibility is exactly what non-Doug Ford politicians and parties need. Otherwise we’ll have another default Ford win because people don’t ‘see’ another politician willing to show up/stand up for what they believe in,” another person commented.
“No kidding, most media outlets didn’t even call Marit Stiles by her name, it was always Doug Ford and the NDP leader,” another person shared.
And some say the video inspired them to get involved.
“Uhh yea, made me make my first political donation. The 75c back for every dollar really hit it home. Go Marit, rooting for ya!” a Redditor shared.
“Anything that upsets Doug Ford makes me happy! I’m gonna donate right now.”
