New Democrats leader Jagmeet Singh received 81% support in the traditional confidence vote for his leadership on Saturday at his party’s national convention in Hamilton, Ont. Beyond the drop of six percentage points compared to the vote in April 2021, it is primarily the Israeli-Palestinian issue that overshadows this result.
While NDP foreign policy critic Heather McPherson was on stage, there was a heated exchange between delegates and the moderator.
The delegates in question chanted pro-Palestinian slogans and called for the party to take tougher action against Israel. Some are calling for this change of position to go so far that Israel is using apartheid political practices against the Palestinian people.
The tone grew louder and louder until the moderator asked the media to leave the area where the argument, which lasted several minutes, took place.
Earlier, delegates had already demonstrated in the corridor of the convention center as the leader was giving a speech to rally and mobilize activists.
A member of the socialist faction of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Barry Weisleder, told the Canadian Press that several delegates began chanting “Free Palestine!” He said it wasn’t his initiative, but he agreed with the message they were sending.
Mr. Weisleder believes he was falsely accused by senior NDP leaders of disrupting the convention. According to him, a senior member of the political party tried to prevent him from entering the chamber of Congress, which he described as illegitimate.
Explanations to the boss’s office
According to Jennifer Howard, Mr. Singh’s chief of staff, it was demonstrators, not delegates, who initiated the protest. Some delegates left the room [plénière du congrès] to join them and the people who showed up [initialement] They may or may not be members of the party, she told The Canadian Press.
Four delegates reportedly had their accreditation revoked because they violated the NDP’s harassment policy by disrupting proceedings.
For their part, the Hamilton police stated on the social network
The incident appeared to highlight the existence of fault lines within the NDP over the support that should be expressed to the Palestinian people. Some criticize the party for not sufficiently condemning Israel’s actions.
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There was a heated exchange between the delegates present at the congress.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Peter Power
Mr. Singh addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his speech, delivered minutes before the traditional confidence vote with NDP members.
There is no justification for the torture, sexual violence and murder committed by Hamas.
The leader also made a point of pointing out that the war in the Middle East is causing casualties in both Israel and the Palestinian territories. “We must demand an immediate end to the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza,” he continued. The crowd of delegates in the hall immediately applauded him enthusiastically, and party activists rose to their feet in a standing ovation.
At the end of the day, when calm had returned, party delegates finally passed an emergency resolution calling for an end to Israel’s total siege of the Gaza Strip, which is prohibited by international law. The resolution also calls for the release of all hostages, a ceasefire and humanitarian aid to Gaza, and international investigations into possible war crimes.
Galvanized trailers
Before this brawl, Congress was doing well. “I want us to use the power we have to make sure Ottawa works for everyone and not the ultra-rich,” Mr. Singh told delegates. Time before they start voting.
The NDP leader devoted most of his speech to activists attacking not only Justin Trudeau’s Liberals but also Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives, particularly accusing them of worsening the housing crisis through their inaction.
“Those two hurt your wallet,” he said.
His speech was interrupted by cheers from the crowd. Jagmeet Singh! Jagmeet Singh! Jagmeet Singh! we sang together. The NDP leader’s wife and the couple’s young daughter accompanied Mr. Singh on stage after his speech. With a few dance steps they let themselves be carried away by the emotion.
The NDP troops had already been shaken up by the new NDP Prime Minister Wab Kinew, recently elected in Manitoba. He sent a message calling for unity among New Democratic forces.
“I can imagine that in the future there will be a progressive wave spreading across Canada,” he argued, his words prompting a shower of applause from the enthusiastic delegates.
Threatening to end the agreement with the Liberals
Delegates also used the convention to unanimously pass a resolution to put pressure on the Trudeau government. It stipulates that the NDP’s agreement to support the Liberals in confidence votes would be voided if the Liberals do not clearly commit to a universal, comprehensive and fully public drug insurance program by the end of the year.
The withdrawal of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh from the agreement would not be systematic because, as emphasized in the text of the resolution, this motion is not binding on the NDP caucus.
Separately, NDP health critic and MP Don Davies has argued that the NDP should pull out of the deal if the bill is deemed unsatisfactory.
Jagmeet Singh emerges as the winner in the confidence vote
Ahead of the confidence vote, there was no secret among the party’s upper echelons of their optimism that the leader would receive a solid level of support from delegates on the second day of the big meeting of the NDP activist base.
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NDP leader Jagmeet Singh
Photo: The Canadian Press / Peter Power
Two former NDP strategists who spoke to The Canadian Press also agreed Mr. Singh would achieve an enviable score.
Karl Bélanger, a former adviser to former NDP leaders Jack Layton and Thomas Mulcair, even went so far as to suggest a 90% support rate.
Ultimately, Mr. Singh was several percentage points below that score. It is also lower than previous approval ratings the NDP leader has received.
Mr Singh, who took over as party leader in 2017, received a score of 87% in his last confidence vote in April 2021. It previously received a rating of 87%. 91% support, in 2018.
Saturday’s vote is the first of its kind since the last general election.
With information from The Canadian Press and Valérie Gamache