NDP appoints Don Davies as interim leader Monday evening

The veteran deputy of the NDP Don Davies has been selected as the new interim leader of the new Democratic Party of Canada.

At a special meeting of the Federal Council of the Party, the NDP Governing Council voted to appoint Davies, deputy of Vancouver Kingsway, after former leader Jagmeet Singh resigned a week after the disappointing electoral result of the party.

The sources confirmed for the first time to CBC and the party later issued a statement confirming the appointment of Davies.

“While the results of the recent elections were not what we expected, our commitment to build a better Canada has ever been stronger,” said the president of the NDP party, Mary Shortall, in the party statement.

“With a renewed sense of purpose, we will make the government count and continue fighting for the problems we listen to at the doors throughout the country: public health care, affordable homes, good jobs and make the ultra rich finally pay their fair part.”

The Federal Council met Monday night after the party had the worst performance in its history on the night of the elections. Singh lost his BC seat and announced in the place he would resign.

Seven parliamentarians of a 24 Caucus are returning to the House of Commons, leaving the NDP without the recognized status of the party. This leaves the new Democrats with fewer opportunities to speak during the period of questions and without additional budget for the office of the leader or the investigation office. The NDP will not guarantee seats in the permanent committees to shape government legislation.

After a devastating election, the caucus of the game had met Thursday to take stock and discuss the next steps.

The Constitution of the NDP establishes that the Federal Council of the Party, in consultation with the parliamentary Caucus, appoints an interim leader until the members of the party choose a permanent one.

The Federal Council is separated from the Caucus of NDP parliamentarians.

Although parliamentarians represent the components in their cables, the Federal Council of the NDP is the largest governing body of the party between the conventions of the national parties, and represents the membership of the NDP.

The interim leader does not have to be MP.

On Tuesday, the lonely deputy of Quebec and attached leader, Alexandre Boulerice, He told Radio-Canada He is interested in interim work, but closed the door when he ran to replace Singh.

Nycole Turmel was an interim leader in July 2011 after former leader Jack Layton set aside for cancer treatment. Layton died in August of that year.

At that time, the NDP formed the official opposition for the first time, and Turmel served until the party selected its new leader, Thomas Mulcair, in 2012.

Turmel said he was not surprised by the result of Monday’s elections, but he was still sad about that.

Although the game is far from where it was in 2011, Turmel said that the next interim leader has a fundamental role to grow fund collection and help the party achieve a successful leadership career.

Although the new Democrats may not have the official party status, he points out that the NDP and the Québécois block still have the balance of power in this minority parliament. Turmel said that NDP’s interim leader can have an important role in negotiation with liberals and other parties.

“I have to say that it is much more important than people think,” Turmel told CBC News. “I think it’s important for [the new interim leader] to raise their voice and make clear what they want. “

The only deputy of Vancouver Island of the party, Gord Johns, also called the results of the Monday and said that the party has a lot of internal work to do.

“I think we have a reconstruction … I’m not going to deny that,” Johns said in an interview with CBC Radio’s The house.