(Ottawa) New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh has passed activists’ vote of confidence with flying colors, receiving 81% approval. This result is the lowest he has achieved since he took office at the head of the political party in 2017.
Published at 10:49 am. Updated at 2:17 p.m.
The result was announced without much fanfare early on Saturday afternoon. According to the party, the NDP convention gathered only 952 delegates, as opposed to the 1,200 people registered.
It is Jagmeet Singh’s third confidence vote since he was elected NDP leader in 2017. Members must indicate at each party conference whether they want to hold a leadership contest, according to the party’s constitution. In 2018 it reached 91% and in 2021 it reached 87%.
Shortly after the result was announced, delegates passed a resolution changing the confidence vote to avoid confusion. In the future, members will decide not whether they want a leadership race, but whether they want their leader to remain in office.
Singh condemns the violence of Hamas and Israel
Hours earlier, Jagmeet Singh condemned the violence of both Hamas and the Israeli state in his speech. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict dominated the convention as a pro-Palestinian demonstration broke out in the halls of the Hamilton Convention Center.
“Nothing can justify the torture, murder and sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas,” Mr. Singh said. And we must demand an immediate end to the massacres of innocent civilians in Gaza. The world cannot stand idly by as the people of Gaza are left behind. »
The approximately 900 delegates gathered in the hall rose to applaud.
“New Democrats have always been those who have a desire for peace, even when there have been calls for war,” he added.
A few dozen pro-Palestinian people disrupted the event by holding a demonstration in the hallway during the New Democrats leader’s speech. The NDP confirmed that some delegates in attendance were no longer allowed access to the convention due to the party’s anti-harassment policy.
Activists are expected to comment on the conflict between Israel and Hamas later in the day. At least two other resolutions condemn war crimes on both sides.
The agreement with the Liberals was called into question
Jagmeet Singh also defended the deal that allows the liberal minority to govern as if they were the majority.
“The reality is the Liberals only act when the NDP forces them to,” he said.
According to a long-time activist, this agreement is not to the advantage of the New Democratic Party. Barry Weisleder wanted a leadership race to take place.
“I think it was a bad idea from the start,” says the man who leads the NDP’s socialist caucus and has been active in the party for 55 years.
“Not everyone agrees with me, but we can now make a final assessment: it is a failure,” he adds.
Vice leader Alexandre Boulerice tried Saturday to convince delegates that the New Democrats had managed to use their balance of power under the deal.
“For the first time, we managed to introduce ten sick days for employees,” he remembers. He also mentioned the dental insurance program as well as the upcoming drug insurance program and the upcoming anti-scab legislation.
“They need to get tougher on the government, but even better is to end this pact and say, ‘We will support bills one at a time if it is in the interests of the working class,’” argues Barry Weisleder.
He particularly disagrees with the NDP’s support for federal budgets, particularly the 2022 budget, which included $8 billion in new spending on national defense after the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
“We need air tankers, not fighter jets,” he summarizes, referring to the wildfires that hit many communities across the country over the summer.
Delegates on Saturday rejected the idea of making the deal between the NDP and Liberal parties contingent on anti-strike legislation being introduced within three months. They are expected to vote this afternoon on an emergency resolution to terminate the agreement if the Liberals’ drug insurance bill does not provide for the creation of a “universal, comprehensive” program. and completely public.
She is supported by 28 constituency association presidents. It has been prioritized and should therefore be discussed first during the 30 minutes dedicated to emergency resolutions late Saturday afternoon.