The reception of Singh in the West
Hello, I am a senior reporter after the NDP campaign.
In western Canada, the NDP governs in two provinces (BC and Manitoba) and is the official opposition in the other two (Alberta and Saskatchewan). During the first western swing of the federal leader of the PND Jagmeet Singh this week, did we see any situation of the successful new provincial democrats?
His meeting with Prime Minister David Eby in Victoria on Monday was a late addition to his itinerary. The time brands in the camera images suggest that the meeting lasted about 15 minutes. (In defense of EBY, it was an agitated day for him, since the Legislature discussed the withdrawal of 11 hours of BC from carbon prices before its increase scheduled on April 1).
At the next Singh stop in Edmonton on Tuesday, Singh spoke with the leader of the Alberta PND (and former mayor of Calgary) Naheed Neshi, but only in a zoom call because Nenshi was in Calgary.
The NDP tour jumped to Saskatchewan (who has not chosen a new Democratic deputy since 2015) and flew to Winnipeg that afternoon. The journalists and cameras were allowed to the lobby of the legislature to see Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew greet Singh.
Kinew and Singh spoke briefly and, in a minute, the couple disappeared through the side stairs to be private.
Provincial leaders have been stingy with their backs so far in this unpredictable and volatile campaign, finding it politically safer, perhaps, remain in their own lanes and commit to work with those who voters choose. But if there was ever a career in which the federal NDP could use a public support from a popular prime minister, it is surely this, since Singh continues to be bad in national surveys.
