Sunday March 23, 2025 | OTTAWA, ON [Reporting from VICTORIA, BC] | Posted 6 pm PT [Updated 9:30 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
“We will never be Trump’s 51st state. Not in name, not in values, not ever,” said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh today on this first day of the federal campaign.
That drew applause from the crowd behind him at the podium in Ottawa.
“Even before Donald Trump started his greedy trade war, times were tough. And we fought to make things better for you and your family. Paid sick days and laws to protect you at work. That was us!”
He further itemized dental care and pharmacare. “That was us!” He also noted how health care, pensions and paid sick days were NDP initiatives brought to bear on the Liberal minority government for action.
“We believe that the promise of Canada belongs to all of us,” said Singh.
Hits against Liberals and Conservatives:
He took a hit against Mark Carney, saying the the new Liberal Leader “cashed in while Canadians were struggling”, referring to Carney’s CEO leadership at a large investment firm.
He took a hit against Pierre Poilievre, saying the Conservative leader is “giving tax breaks to the wealthy”.
“Only New Democrats can be trusted to look out for you,” he concluded at that point in the speech. “We can and we must fight back.”
Pundits and polls indicate that perhaps Election 2025 is a horse-race between the Liberals and the Conservatives. But Singh today countered that: “Imagine if you elect an NDP government what we can do for you!”
Small but mighty:
All the achievements for people that the NDP accomplished through politics in the last parliament was achieved with 25 MPs; 12 of the 24 NDP MPs (at dissolution) were representing ridings in BC.
BC’s NDP results could be a deciding factor for the NDP’s overall party success in the April 28 election. At least 12 seats are required for any party to have official party status in the House of Commons.
“We’re not going anywhere, we’re here and we’re going to fight for people,” said Singh. “We can deliver for them,” he said, repeating the delivery of dental care and pharmacare.
“In this election we’re going to show Canadians the choices that they have,” said Singh. “Trump has come out and endorsed Mark Carney. Elon Musk has endorsed Pierre Poilievre.”
“I am the only candidate 100 percent not endorsed by the Donald Trump administration,” the NDP lead said.
Today’s media questions:
The national press was in Ottawa to ask Singh questions today on this first day of the campaign, including from The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, CBC, CTV and Global.
He told media that he’s “very comfortable being the underdog” and that “a lot of Canadians can relate to that”. He said there are a lot of workers who are worried about losing their jobs and that the cost of living is getting even more expensive.
Singh pointed out that Carney has already brought in a tax cut for millionaires and that Poilievre had suggested a tax cut for businesses.
Vancouver Island launch:
Today on Vancouver Island there was a campaign launch for NDP Victoria incumbent Laurel Collins and Saanich-Gulf Islands NDP candidate Colin Plant, at their shared campaign office in downtown Victoria.
Singh was in Victoria on March 11 to open that office, also promoting Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke NDP candidate Maja Tait.
The NDP incumbent in Cowichan-Malahat-Langford is Alistair MacGregor whose campaign office is in Duncan. He launched his campaign today, with an official office opening in the days ahead.
===== RELATED:
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- Liberal Leader Mark Carney to run in Ottawa-area riding (March 22, 2025)
- Fielding federal candidates in 343 ridings across the country (March 22, 2025)
- 45th federal election to be held on April 28 (March 22, 2025)
- Liberal vision to build ‘one strong economy’ in response to trade war (March 21, 2025)
- Carney & Premiers discuss interprovincial trade, economic infrastructure, more housing & being an energy superpower (March 21, 2025)
- Carney on tariff challenge: do things faster and at a different scale (March 20, 2025)
- Bank of Canada Governor: more uncertainty, tough decisions as trade war escalates (March 20, 2025)
- Jagmeet Singh launches south Vancouver Island NDP campaign office (March 13, 2025)
- Maja Tait launches her federal NDP campaign alongside Jagmeet Singh (March 11, 2025)
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