In a video of “Prepare with me” published this week, the leader of the NDP Jagmeet Singh twists his long hair under his turban and talks about his life before politics.
“I left and obtained three minimum salary works … to put food on the table,” he tells the camera.
Tiktok’s video is similar to the way in which the Canadians were presented in their first choice as a leader in 2019. He is now entering his third campaign.
“I struggled hard … I’m going to fight for you,” he says.
The NDP, and its leader, could be in one of its toughest battles so far.
Recent surveys suggest that the popularity of the new Democrats has fallen to their lowest level in decades, according to Éric Grenier, who runs CBC survey trackerthat adds public opinion surveys.
“The support of the NDP has collapsed in recent weeks, and they are in serious problems,” Grenier said.
Their data suggests that the support of the NDP is now less than 12 percent and that the NDP could lose approximately three quarters of its 24 seats in the Commons Chamber. The conduction of Singh, and the official status of the party, are at risk.
“You probably have to return to the 1990s to find the NDP survey so bad,” Grenier said.
“If the NDP continues to survey at this level for a constant and constant amount of time, the NDP could be on the way to one of its worst results in at least 30 years.”
The leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh, who speaks from Hamilton on Thursday, is asked if he must resign as a leader if he does not improve the position of the NDP in the next elections. Singh responded by saying “we are focused on the elections in front of us.”
Singh was asked about his group’s fortune on Thursday in Hamilton.
“This is a very important choice, and I know that Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre would not want anything better than the NDP disappears,” said Singh.
“We are not going anywhere.”
Shaking Justin Trudeau
The new liberal leader Mark Carney is probably part of the reason for the recent fall of the NDP, Grenier said.
“To see how quickly the NDP vote collapsed with the change of [Liberal] The leadership suggests that many of those voters parked their vote with the NDP. But as soon as another alternative appeared, they were ready to leave the party, “he said.
And although the liberals have eliminated Justin Trudeau, it is not clear that Singh has eliminated his own association with the former prime minister.
Through a supply and trust agreement, the NDP kept the liberal minority afloat for more than two years by accepting vote with them in a key legislation.
In return, the liberals agreed to support the main social programs such as Dental and Pharmacare. The new Democrats regularly indicate these as a significant policy that wins for a party with only 24 parliamentarians.
But that might not be resonating with the Canadians. On the island of Vancouver, where the new Democrats have most seats, some voters say their message is not landing.
“Over the years, I have voted to the NDP, but I will vote liberal because I really think each vote need,” Robyn Austin said.
“The federal NDP has done a good job, but its messages and brands have not been successful,” said Farrell Gilmour, who leans towards the NDP vote. “They have not really been able to take credit for some of the victories.”
Nawal Lasfar says he is voting conservative.
“They kept the Liberal Party in power. And for that reason, I would not vote for them,” Lasfar said.
Leveling the playing field
Jennifer Howard, the national campaign director of the new Democrats, said the elections will give the party another opportunity to transmit their message to the voters.
Once the campaign begins, political parties have publicity limits for advertising, and the party says that their war chest is large enough to meet those limits.
“We will be at the same level of play as the other parties,” he said.
In 2024, the NDP raised $ 6.2 million, less than half of the total liberals and eclipsed for the $ 41.7 million that the conservatives raised.
But Howard and others within the party have been eager to point out that the NDP is entering these elections in the best financial form since Singh became a leader.
They are ready to spend up to $ 34 million, some borrowed.
“I think it has been a very volatile moment for all who have been watching the surveys. We are not in the same place where we were months ago,” said Howard.
“That also tells me that things can change quickly … we will see more changes before the dust settles.”
Trump as the question of the polls
This volatility, largely from the president of the United States, means that the main problems of the PND campaign, such as affordability and housing, can no longer be in the minds of voters.
The former NDP campaign director Brad Lavigne said the party must devise a plan to “fulfill the moment” to respond to the threats of President Donald Trump to the economy and sovereignty of Canada.
“The question of the electoral ballot for these federal elections will be who is the best in the president of the Prime Minister and the Federal Government to face Donald Trump and the rates,” said Lavigne.
As Carney moves the policies of the Liberal Party to the right of Trudeau, there could be an opportunity for Singh to collect the support of progressive voters, Lavigne said.
“We will see in the next few days, as this choice develops, whether or not they can seize it.”
‘Fight as your future leadership is at stake’
This is likely to be a definitive choice for Singh.
When he became a leader in 2017, Lavigne said there was hope that Singh could enter without exploiting voters, particularly with the youngest and most suburban electorate around the main urban centers.
But the NDP has lost 20 seats in the House of Commons since then, and more than 400,000 Canadians less voted for them in 2021 than in 2015 under former leader Tom Mulcair.
“I would suggest that unless Mr. Singh can change this, the new Democrats will have many difficult questions after this electoral campaign,” said Lavigne.
“Mr. Singh needs to fight as his future leadership is at stake.”
He asked on Thursday about whether he will resign if he cannot improve the results of the NDP this time, Singh said: “At this time, we are focused on the elections in front of us.”
As for the future of the party, the new and former Democratic deputy, Charlie Angus, said that the NDP has started campaigns in which they have been canceled before.
“The first time I ran, I was considered a joke candidate because I was this punk rock boy running in a liberal bastion. And I have sustained that driving since then,” said Angus.
“So we are always the helpless. It’s fine. We are used to that.”
