'All bets are off' when Parliament resumes, says NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh emphasized that his party is focused on restoring Canadians' "hope," but acknowledged that the current minority government situation brings unpredictability. "After speaking with our team for the past couple days, we've really come to this strong desire that Canadians have for hope," Singh said at the close of the NDP’s three-day caucus retreat in Montreal. "We want to bring that hope to Canadians. We want to restore that hope."

The retreat had two main objectives for Singh and his MPs: strategizing for the upcoming fall session of Parliament and preparing for the next federal election.

The NDP has laid out plans to push for price caps on essential grocery items, propose legislation to ban corporate landlords from purchasing affordable housing, and continue to press the Liberals to deliver fully on dental and pharmacare commitments.

“We're going to always fight for justice for Indigenous people, address the climate crisis, and create good jobs that allow people to build a life. That's our vision,” Singh said.

When asked about the party's climate policy, especially in response to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s call for a "carbon tax election," Singh hinted that the NDP would propose an alternative to the Liberals' consumer carbon pricing model. “We want to fight the climate crisis without putting the burden on working people, ensuring that big polluters pay their fair share,” he explained, adding that a detailed plan will be released in the coming months.

Singh also drew a hard line against back-to-work legislation, particularly in light of a potential Air Canada pilot strike. “If you ever make back-to-work legislation a confidence vote, we will always vote against that, so you can never count on our support,” he reiterated to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In terms of committee work in the House of Commons, Singh indicated a shift in the NDP's approach. The party often aligned with the Liberals in the past to block or soften Conservative-led investigations into ethics and appointment issues. Now, Singh says, “All bets are off. We’ve torn up the agreement with the Liberals. They can expect no help and no support from us unless it benefits Canadians.”

NDP MPs left Montreal feeling they had maximized their influence over the two years of the supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals, and are now ready to support progressive policies on a case-by-case basis.

A key focus of the retreat was the party’s readiness for the next federal election. Singh kicked off the strategy session with a new ad campaign, inviting Canadians to envision an NDP-led federal government, a goal never before achieved in Canada.

His MPs expressed relief at no longer being in the shadow of Trudeau’s government and are ready to present their party as the progressive alternative for voters who are disillusioned with the Liberals. However, while the NDP isn’t eager to force an early election, insiders warn this shouldn't be confused with a lack of preparedness.

The NDP's immediate focus is on two upcoming byelections. In Elmwood-Transcona, Manitoba, they are defending a longtime NDP stronghold against Conservative competition for union worker support. In Montreal’s LaSalle-Émard-Verdun, the party is trying to flip a Liberal seat, despite some backlash over the use of the Palestinian flag in a campaign flyer.

Singh has visited both ridings and reported a positive reception during his canvassing in LaSalle-Émard-Verdun, Quebec. While Monday’s byelections are seen as the first test of the NDP's new message, Singh remains confident that he will lead the party into the next federal election, regardless of the outcome.