Tuesday July 8, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
Political analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
A federal campaign review and renewal process has been launched by the federal ND.
The party which saw defeat in electoral areas across the country — including in their Vancouver Island stronghold — says it will “reflect on the 2025 election campaign and help shape a path forward for the party to continue delivering real relief for Canadians”.
There were 24 NDP members of parliament before Election 2025. Afterward there were seven. They lost party status in the House of Commons.
The leader of the NDP Jagmeet Singh resigned on the election night. After a short interim period in the leadership role, Don Davies was then chosen as the party’s leader.
Conflicting directions:
It seemed obvious at the beginning of the 35-day campaign (starting at the end of March 2025) that the NDP was following a mainstream approach to political mechanics even though they are a party that aims to change the way the government delivers for people. They set out by at first having their leader ‘running to be prime minister’ even though the party clearly makes its greatest strides for people by being the counterpoint to mainstream government.
It was the NDP that pushed for a living-wage level for CERB during the pandemic, for dental care, child care, school lunch programs and the beginnings of nation-wide Pharmacare with the introduction of free diabetes medication and free contraception.
For some reason the NDP could not champion these achievements in their campaign; that could well have been the lynch-pin of their downfall.
For some reason the candidates were directed by a central campaign that had them fight like they were something that they are not.
As the 35-day campaign period unfolded, some candidates took on some flavours of their own in specific ridings or regions. For example, a few south Vancouver Island candidates ‘dressed down’ in what they perceived to be casual worker-style clothing, as part of an effort to capture the attention of working class voters.
As the weeks unfolded in April 2025, the NDP began looking like a party in disarray. The leader made one-issue-per-day campaign stops across the country while local candidates in many ways tried to strike out on their own, it seems still within the constraints of national directives. At a pre-campaign pit-stop in mid-March, the candidate group photo backdrop was the BC flag — making for jurisdictional confusion.
Several long-time NDP MPs were lost in the crush of defeat in the federal general election on April 28, 2025 as a result of essentially allowing themselves (or being required) to be guided by a central campaign that was not in touch with the very people and processes that were effective in various policy sectors, regions and ridings.
People or process:
For a party that ‘puts people first’ the 2025 NDP campaign chose instead to put process first. Process is a fundamental plank of the NDP mindset but that’s a future-shaping mindset. In the real world of 2025 that was not an approach that fit where the country is presently at.
By sticking to process and an idealized future, the NDP could not liberate itself to combat the ‘fear-of-Trump’ that the Liberals rode to a big win at the ballot box.
If nothing else, the NDP review this summer might want to explore how to recapture their party faithful who abandonned them at the ballot box on April 28, 2025.
Pressures on Singh:
As was revealed in the post-election period, then NDP party leader Jagmeet Singh was enduring the impact of threats on his life and that of his family (as had been revealed to him by a national security agency).
It’s understandable that he might have been distracted during the campaign. It’s possible he was not allowed to share what he’d been told.
On election night he seemed readily relieved to be resigning.
Facilitator taking the lead:
To facilitate the campaign review and renewal process, the NDP’s Table Officers appointed Emilie Taman.
Taman is a labour and human rights lawyer and former NDP candidate in the ridings of Ottawa—Vanier and Ottawa Centre.
Appointing one of their own might cloud the true messaging that might otherwise come through. At this juncture of the NDP’s pathway in Canadian politics it might have made more sense to appointment someone truly independent and apart from the party’s culture.
Meanwhile, Taman said in a news release today that she is grateful for the party’s trust. She sees “both an opportunity and a responsibility to reflect on its work”.
Taman says the review will “critically assess the 2025 election campaign so we can build on what was successful and better understand what wasn’t, with the goal of coming back stronger and better for the next campaign”.
“This is a unique moment in our party’s history,” said Taman. “I look forward to hearing from everyone who cares deeply about the future of the NDP. Together, we can ensure the NDP continues to play a pivotal role in building a better Canada for years to come.”
How the review works:
This independent process will include a consultation stage that will start in the coming weeks. This summer and early fall, Taman will hold opportunities for New Democrats from across Canada to share their thoughts and ideas, such as:
- Guided discussions hosted by Electoral District Associations (EDAs) and local campaign teams with staff, volunteers, and members;
- Listening sessions with former candidates, the party’s equity commissions, Executive, and Federal Council;
- One-on-one meetings with elected members (current and former), stakeholders, and key campaign staff.
New Democrats can now participate by sharing their input through an online survey or by email (up to September 19, 2025) to an address provided directly to party members.
“The feedback collected will help inform a written report that the NDP plans to share with its members before the end of the year.” the NDP stated in their July 8, 2025 news release.
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: FEDERAL NDP | CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2025