He finally did it. After months of speculation about the fate of the confidence and supply agreement that bound his party to the federal Liberal government and a few days of being taunted as a “sellout” by Pierre Poilievre, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh pulled the plug on the deal Wednesday.
“The Liberals have let people down,” Singh said in a video. “They don’t deserve another chance from Canadians.” In the process, though, Singh showed why he probably doesn’t deserve another one either.
For all the bravado and bluster about how he “ripped up” the deal, it’s not like he actually intends to bring down the government any time soon. The NDP’s provincial wings in British Columbia and Saskatchewn are in the midst of election campaigns of their own, and there simply isn’t enough volunteer labour to support a federal campaign right now. There’s also the non-insignificant matter of the NDP’s underwhelming bankroll, which has been dedicated to paying off the $22 million debt it racked up in the last election. If he tries to bluff Trudeau on a potential confidence vote, he should expect it to be called immediately.
If anything, Singh’s decision is a show of weakness rather than strength, given that it comes on the heels of Poilievre’s (successful, it seems) attempts to bully him into breaking faith with the government. Maybe it’s enough to stave off any potential conversations about his own leadership at next week’s NDP retreat in Montreal. But with his party barely treading water in the face of a generational collapse in Liberal support, they ought to be having it all the same.
This should, in theory, be the NDP’s time to shine. With a tired and increasingly error-prone Liberal government, a Conservative leader who loves nothing more than getting high on his own supply, and a political environment that’s elevating issues like the cost of living and housing, the NDP should be poised to make major gains. Instead, they might be lucky to keep the seats they have if Singh remains leader — especially if they can’t establish themselves as the prevailing progressive alternative.
That’s still on the table, by the way. A recent Abacus Data poll showed the NDP has both a larger potential vote universe than the Liberals and more opportunity to consolidate the progressive vote under its banner. “If it became clear that the NDP had the best chance of stopping the Conservatives from winning the election,” its analysis said, “we find that 11 per cent of committed voters or 35 per cent of Liberal, Green, and BC supporters would probably vote NDP, while 6 per cent of the committed electorate or 20 per cent of Liberal, Green, and BC supporters would definitely vote NDP.” If the two groups are combined, the NDP’s vote share rises to 35 per cent — just seven points behind the CPC.
I just don’t think that’s going to happen under Jagmeet Singh, though. I have little doubt that he’s a good and decent man, and that he’s committed to the values the NDP holds dear. But I have even less doubt that he’s not the right person to meet the moment we’re in. Part of that comes down to the reality that a private-school educated lawyer with a conspicuous fondness for the finer things in life is inescapably out of step with the votes and voters the NDP ought to be trying to attract. Part of that is a reflection of the party's disappointingly predictable collapse in Quebec, where there’s clearly still bigoted antipathy towards a turbaned Sikh like Singh. And part of it is, as the kids say, a “skill issue”.
This moment calls for a principled progressive party that can make a compelling economic case to working class voters. It demands a boldness and bravery that pushes beyond tired class warfare tropes and actually advances real solutions to the problems people are facing, from housing to healthcare. And it’s practically aching for a fresh voice that voters don’t associate with the pandemic or the social and economic trauma many Canadians experienced as a result of it.
That just isn’t Jagmeet Singh. And that’s why, although Liberals will continue to distract themselves with daydreams about replacing Justin Trudeau as leader, it’s the NDP brass who should be taking out their metaphorical knives and getting to work. Pull Rachel Notley out of retirement, if you have to. Beg Wab Kinew to save Canada from a Poilievre government, if you can. Either way, it’s time to do something truly big and bold before it’s too late.
Comments
Singh has no traction out here in the hinterland, no passion that the electorate can get behind.
Case by Case is simply put for the liberal voters to accept as Singh has been ''CASE BY CASE '' since 2022 and if he doesn't support the LIBS,,, The BLOC will,, either ways we are stuck with this egotist man child forever as he will change the constitution for the benefit of the LIBERALS. However IMO, It's high time to revamp this antiquated British Parliamentary System plaguing Canadians since 1867.
It seems that Singh has played right into Poilievre's hand, doing exactly what PP suggested he do, drop our of the Confidence and Supply Agreement.
I'm so tired of Poilievre's pithy, cynical, sarcastic phrases such as "sellout Singh." And I'm worried about the future of this country.
Wake up Canadians- the Conservatives don't care about you nor the working class. And by the way, the Climate Crisis is only getting worse...
As I read your comment,, I can't help but to see you described your Liberals to a ''TEE' S As for climate change,, we are all aware of the curse MOTHER NATURE does and all the money from Canadians is moot as AMERICA,INDIA AND CHINA are exempt and do not participate or did you not know that. ?
Apparently Fawcett has such a hate on for Singh that he is willing to gloss over the fact that the 'rip it up' video was pre-recorded i.e. before Poilievre made his comments. A cynic might even think that the video leaked and that Poilievre just took advantage. If nothing else, he and his crew are very slick propagandists.
The NDP and Liberals have one thing in common, the current leaders no longer resonate with the majority of Canadians. Both leaders need to step down and get some fresh blood and ideas going.
Here's an idea. They both step down, the parties unite to elect a leader for a united party that doesn't suck up to large corporations or billionaires. I can dream can't I :-)
Not gonna happen, but it should. Vote splitting on the left is the only thing that elects a Conservative government.
"Pull Rachel Notley out of retirement, if you have to."
Don't.
Another of Fawcett's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad ideas, which he tosses out unexamined.
Notley is still a sitting MLA. Not retired.
Notley's popularity, largely confined to Edmonton, is mystifying. Progressives seem to project their own hopes and wishes onto her. Definitely overrated. With few fans in the federal party.
Notley's neoliberal climate/energy policy cannot be reconciled with the federal party's principles.
As Notley's NDP chased the UPC to the right, it left progressive voters behind. As Notley's NDP pandered to the petroleum industry, Notley threw environmentalists and climate activists and Albertans who care about their grandchildren under the bus. She heaped scorn on federal NDP leader Singh. In a vain attempt to retain and then regain power, the AB NDP morphed into PC-lite. Leaving progressive Albertans on the left with no representation.
Alberta's petro-progressive Pipeline Queen indulged freely in neoliberal energy policies. Massive intervention in the economy. Funnelling billions of public dollars into industry, corporations, and shareholders' pockets. A massive transfer of wealth at the expense of the ordinary Canadians and working people they claim to defend.
Former AB Liberal leader Kevin Taft: "Through her whole career and her whole party, up until they became government, [Notley and the NDP] were very effective critics, counterbalances to the oil industry. As soon as she stepped into office, as soon as she and her party became government, they've simply became instruments of the oil industry."
"Is the Oil Industry Canada's 'Deep State'?" (The Real News Network, 2018)
Alberta's Pipeline Queen tried in vain to outconservative the conservatives. On energy and climate, Notley moved the NDP to the right. Both Notley and Fawcett support new oilsands export pipelines — plans to fail on climate.
Michael Harris: "In fact, it is hard to see how a Premier Jason Kenney could out-perform Notley at cheerleading for fossil fuels and the tar sands — or at completely obfuscating the mortal threat of climate change."
Notley took science-based climate policy off the table. Threw environmentalists and climate activists — as well as the federal NDP leader — under the bus. Leaving Alberta progressives in the lurch.
Notley defended the oil industry, fought for the TMX pipeline, and threw billions of dollars in subsidies at multi-billion dollar oil companies on the pretext of fighting for "working people." As if the only jobs worth protecting were in the oil industry. Even as climate change wreaks havoc on jobs, livelihoods, and resources in other sectors. Notley even endorsed Vivian Krause's conspiracy theories. Notley shut down the space for effective science-based climate policy in Alberta.
Petro-progressives like Trudeau, Notley, and Horgan claim to accept the climate change science, but still push pipelines, approve LNG projects, promote oilsands expansion, subsidize fossil fuels, and let fossil fuel interests dictate the agenda. Notley's dilbit pipeline will cost taxpayers at least $30.9 billion to build. Every TMX spill should have Notley's name on it.
Goaded by jibes from Danielle Smith, Notley's flip-flopping on energy/climate issues made the AB NDP look even weaker.
Notley's new NDP climate plan:
●Oppose the federal 'just transition' plan.
●Oppose Canada's 2030 emission reduction goals.
●Invest even more in oilsands CCS projects.
"The talk around our table is that the NDP government is just another platform of the previous Conservative government with a different logo. Nothing has changed." (Chief Allan Adam)
Under Notley, the AB NDP were trounced in the 2019 election. Soundly rejected outside their Edmonton stronghold. The NDP's lacklustre 2023 campaign was botched.
Notley is not a team player.
In the Oct 2019 federal election, Notley initially refused to publicly support the federal NDP candidate Heather McPherson in Edmonton Strathcona. Notley had nothing to gain. The AB NDP had already gone down to defeat in April. Sabotaging federal NDP fortunes in Edmonton Strathcona would do nothing to help the AB NDP.
"What was Rachel Notley suggesting when she said she's not committed to voting for Jagmeet Singh's New Democrats?" (Alberta Politics, 2019)
Good old Rachel. Alberta's progressive climate champion, fighting against her grandchildren's right to a healthy planet to the bitter end:
Notley's next stop should be on Suncor's board of directors.
In summary it is correct that there is very little in common between the federal and provincial NDP. This immaginary linkage should be ended.
Can't disagree with all that, Geoffrey. The very suggestion that Notley be brought out of retirement would spotlight her record of promoting Alberta fossil fuels and pipelines with every gram of condescension and sarcasm against opponents she could muster. And she hoodwinked some enviros into believing her "social contract" with the oil industry to accept her carbon tax was a licence to pump and burn more, and to "limit" the CO2 generated in doing so to 100 megatonnes was somehow a form of progress on fighting climate.
It also puts the spotlight on today's AB NDP leader, Naheed Nenshi. He's been awfully quiet about oil and renewables since elected.
Clearly, your problem with Rachel Notley is that she tried to govern for "all Albertans", not just those that voted NDP, but also for the 40-odd % who voted for the oil industry to continue. In the process (predictably) she fell between the horses.
By “BC supporters” you do mean BQ (Bloc Québécois) correct?
I wouldn’t want it confused with another BC.
When you live in a competitive riding which could go in one of three directions, and when you are utterly disgusted with Conservatives, especially since MAGA Lite found a home in that party, the only question is, Which candidate can best win against the Conservative candidate in the next election?
We can hope that Singh can see fit to leave with dignity and do some genuine good as a human rights lawyer, and a new leader with some economic and management experience and deep knowledge of climate science backing a charismatic and likeable personality can ascend to the orange chair. We know who that won't be (e.g. Notley -- too much baggage), but that begs the question, who will fit the bill best?
Likewise, winter is coming. One can also hope that Trudeau will follow in his dad's footsteps in the snow and pull out for the good of the Liberal Party. The same hopes for a fresh leader apply also to the Libs.
But with or without new leadership, both parties must present viable candidates in my riding, one of whom must have the ability to attract enough votes to push past the Conservative candidate.
The NDP need to promote a totally corrupt official who throws out scurrilous accusations and vile insults with wild abandon.
I'm just saying: around the world, that strategy is WORKING for the other side. Maybe lefties should try it.