With just days remaining before Canadians head to the polls, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is pushing back against growing speculation about his future and the party’s viability. Rallying supporters in Edmonton alongside former Alberta premier Rachel Notley, Singh delivered a defiant message: New Democrats will not be “sidelined or shut down” as they fight to stay relevant in an election that could see their parliamentary presence significantly reduced.
Singh dismissed questions about his leadership, insisting that the campaign isn’t over and neither is his commitment. “I don’t hear any bell. You guys hear a bell?” Singh told the crowd. “This round is not over. This fight’s not over. We’re here fighting.”
With polls suggesting the NDP could fall below the 12-seat threshold needed to maintain official party status — having started the race with 24 seats — Singh unveiled a sharpened message aimed at disillusioned progressive voters. While the campaign had focused heavily on the threat of Donald Trump’s influence on Canadian politics, Singh is now turning his attention to what he sees as the dangers of complacency in the face of Liberal and Conservative dominance.
In a pointed attack, Singh argued that neither major party offers real hope for working people. He warned that electing Liberal leader Mark Carney simply because he appears to be the lesser evil would amount to surrendering the movement for justice. “If we’re told the only way to stop Trump’s influence is to give up what we believe in, then what are we defending?” Singh asked. “Everyday people have been told to wait, to sacrifice, to settle for less… to just step aside and give this one to Mark Carney. We’ve heard it all before, and we refuse to be silenced, sidelined, or shut down.”
Singh also dismissed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s chances of winning, saying Canadians “don’t want Trump-style politics here.” But he cautioned that a Liberal win should not be mistaken for progress, warning that unchecked power for Carney would only entrench the status quo.
Singh’s comments came as he campaigned in Edmonton Centre with NDP hopeful Trisha Estabrooks, who’s been on the ground for over a year trying to unseat the Liberal incumbent. Joined by NDP incumbents Heather McPherson and Blake Desjarlais, Singh sought to energize the base and assure voters their values still have a home.
Desjarlais echoed the leader’s optimism, noting high volunteer turnout and describing a sense of resolve among supporters. He recounted how he was counted out in 2021 but still emerged victorious, dismissing the polls as unreliable predictors. “The polls, they always say things. They said things to me many, many times… That I’d be wiped out. This election is different,” he said. “A lot of people, yeah, they’re fearful, but they want to vote for their values too.”
Supporters at the rally shared similar sentiments — a mix of hope and anxiety. Some described feeling inspired to vote, while others admitted to being afraid their hopes won’t materialize. Singh, sensing the emotion in the room, left the stage with a message of perseverance: “New Democrats show up when we’re counted out. We fight when we’re told to fall in line. We don’t step aside, we push forward, we don’t flinch.”
As the 2025 federal election nears its conclusion, the New Democrats are trying to do just that — fight to remain a force in Canadian politics.