NDP insiders say the New Democrats were surprised by the Liberal defeat in the recent Toronto by-election and now see the ruling party’s weakness as an opportunity.
Anne McGrath, chief of staff to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in the House of Commons, told CBC News the party believes the result of the Toronto-St. Paul by-election will be close but not an upset for the Conservatives.
“So I think it was a bit of a surprise to everybody,” she said, adding that the Liberal defeat in the by-election in a province that was once a party stronghold has intensified debate within the Liberal party over the future of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
One sitting Liberal MP has called for Trudeau to step down, while another has warned that if he stays in office, sitting Liberals could walk away at the next election.
Last month, Catherine McKenna, Trudeau’s environment minister, became the first former cabinet minister to call for his resignation. Liberal MPs are calling for an emergency meeting of all party members to discuss the by-election results, but Liberal caucus leader Brenda Shanahan has rejected the request.
McGrath said infighting within the Liberal caucus has created a leadership vacuum at a time when Canadians need help.
“Canadians are experiencing very high levels of anxiety about the cost of living and how they’re living,” she said. “The Liberal Party seems to be spending a lot of time debating whether or not they should be meeting.”
McGrath said the NDP will have a chance to talk to Canadians over the summer about issues such as rising food prices and housing costs.
“That’s very fair. [the Liberals] “Voters are pretty distracted right now. I don’t think anybody can deny that,” she said. “This summer is an opportunity to reconnect with voters and hear their voices. That’s what we’re going to do.”
Singh kicked off his summer tour at Town Hall on Saturday. Vancouver-Granville Liberal constituency.
Singh is expected to visit St. John’s, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver and host town hall meetings in several cities, according to several party officials who were not authorized to speak publicly. Singh’s summer tour plans have not yet been finalized, the people said.
Sources note that many of these cities are districts previously held by the NDP or where the New Democrats were competitive.
“These areas could be good indicators of areas with potential for growth in the next election,” the NDP leader said.
Party officials say they want to connect with Canadians who feel they are working harder for less pay in an economy that favors big banks, cellphone companies and grocery chains.
“Things need to change,” Singh said. New Social Media Advertising“Everything is so expensive… and it’s not your fault. You’re at a disadvantage.”
In the ad, Singh attacks Conservative Leader Pierre Poirierbre, accusing him of giving more power to Canadian companies.
“He wants to cut what services remain,” Singh says in the ad.
NDP MPs and staff told CBC News they were pleased the House of Commons passed bills during the spring session that would limit the use of replacement workers during strikes, help workers transition to a low-carbon economy, establish a drug benefit program and begin subsidizing dental care for seniors, children and people with disabilities.
The party argues that electing the Conservatives would put these gains at risk.
All of these items are components of the confidence and supply agreement the party has with the governing Liberals, under which NDP caucuses will support the Liberal budget and other key legislation in exchange for the government advancing New Democrat policy priorities.
The party will go into the next election without at least six of its incumbent councillors – Randall Garrison, Rachel Blaney, Richard Cannings, Charlie Angus, Carol Hughes and Daniel Blakey.
Garrison, Angus and Cannings are retiring. Blaney is stepping down to spend more time with his family. Blakey is taking a job from Manitoba NDP Premier Wab Kinew. Hughes’ seat will disappear due to changes to the electoral map.
McGrath said Singh will spend the summer defending Blakey’s seat in Winnipeg’s Elmwood-Transcona riding. The party is also preparing for a yet-to-be-announced by-election in Montreal’s LaSalle-Emard-Verdun riding.
The district was previously held by former Liberal cabinet minister David Lametti, who resigned, and the NDP is fielding city councillor Craig Sauvé, who it sees as its star candidate in the district.
The party came third in the constituency in 2021.
The party also plans to introduce several of its new candidates alongside Singh during his summer tour, including Mary Shortall in St. John’s East, Lisa Roberts in Halifax Centre, Trisha Estabrooks in Edmonton Centre and Kelvin Coccilia in the Northwest Territories.
Two other prominent NDP candidates, Claire Hassell in the Toronto-Danforth riding and Norm Di Pasquale in the Spadina-Fort York riding, also plan to attend events with Singh over the summer.
McGrath said his party’s prospects are bright in Toronto after the Liberal party’s by-election defeat, but he also acknowledged that the NDP’s vote share in the Toronto-St. Paul riding fell by five per cent.
McGrath said the weak performance was due to voters insistent on blaming the Liberal party.
“It seems like a lot of people took advantage of the opportunity to send a message to the government, which is common in by-elections,” she said.
