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Journalism of Courage
With just days to go before Canada heads to the polls on April 28, Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), finds himself at a political crossroads. Once a critical ally of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Singh is now battling not just low poll numbers, but a crowded field dominated by frontrunners Liberal Mark Carney and Conservative Pierre Poilievre — in a race that, for the first time in over a decade, does not feature Trudeau on the ballot.
Singh, 46, is facing the steepest climb of his political career. His party — which played kingmaker for Trudeau’s minority government in 2022 — withdrew its support in September 2024, citing the Liberals’ inability to resist growing Conservative momentum.
“They cannot be change, they cannot restore the hope, they cannot stop the Conservatives. But we can,” Singh declared at the time, officially ending the alliance in a dramatic video message.
The first person from an ethnic minority to lead a major federal party in Canada, Singh has built his political persona around promises of equity, inclusion, and working-class issues. A trained lawyer and former provincial legislator from Ontario, Singh entered federal politics in 2019 and has since positioned himself as a champion for ordinary Canadians. His campaign has focused on forgiving student debt, lowering prescription drug costs, and aggressively cutting carbon emissions.
But the current climate isn’t in his favour. Recent polling shows support for the NDP at its lowest in years, making Singh’s third federal run a fight for relevance. Despite this, he’s kept his tone combative — not just against domestic rivals, but also international provocateurs.
When US President Donald Trump made a controversial remark suggesting many Canadians wanted their country to become the 51st American state, Singh responded with fiery nationalism.
“Our country is not for sale. Not now, not ever,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. In a video message, Singh warned Trump: “We’re good neighbours. But, if you pick a fight with Canada – there will be a price to pay.” He followed it up by urging Canada to slap “retaliatory tariffs in kind,” in response to US trade restrictions.
Singh also pointed to Canada’s goodwill during the California wildfires. “That’s who we are. We show up and support our neighbours,” he said.
Born in Scarborough, Ontario to Indian immigrants from Punjab, Singh’s personal story has often been woven into his politics. His 2019 memoir Love & Courage details a childhood marked by trauma, including sexual abuse by a taekwondo teacher — experiences that, Singh says, shaped his commitment to justice and empathy.
But that personal conviction now faces the hard reality of electoral math. With the NDP’s numbers lagging, Singh’s final days of campaigning will test whether his brand of progressive politics can resonate with a disillusioned electorate, or whether he risks being pushed to the sidelines in a reshaped political landscape.
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