NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said in a speech Tuesday that he would not form another coalition with the Liberals after the next election because he will win that election and become Prime Minister.
Singh made the remarks at Carleton University’s Bell Lecture.
During the Q & A portion of his speech, Singh was asked if he would form another coalition with the Liberals, to which he answered, “I want to say no right away, because we’re going to win the next election.”
“I defy the odds. We’re going to win because people need us to win. I genuinely mean it,” he added.
“I really want people to know I want to be the next Prime Minister of this country. I want to be the first labour prime minister, the first New Democratic Prime Minister,” said Singh.
He went on to boast about NDP accomplishments, including the ones claimed by his party over the last two years.
“Twenty-five MPs brought in pharmacare, diabetes coverage, diabetes devices coverage, birth control, brought in child care legislation, brought in dental care, brought in 10 paid sick leaves, anti-scab legislation,” said Singh.
He said it’s because of his coalition with Trudeau that they were able to implement these policies.
According to 338 Canada, Singh is averaging at 18% in the polls, while Poilievre conservatives are averaging at 42%. If an election were held today, Singh’s New Democrats would remain in fourth place, with just 24 seats.
Singh also discussed immigration in his speech, saying immigration levels should be “set at a level where we can ensure that people are able to be supported and welcomed to the country, we have enough infrastructure and resources… and that our immigration levels meet our needs.”
True North reached out to Singh’s office to ask what immigration numbers he felt would be reasonable, but they did not respond.
Criticism of immigration has been mounting as the Trudeau government continues to let in very large numbers of immigrants into Canada. In 2023, the government let in 471,550 new permanent residents, in addition to approximately 660,000 as temporary foreign workers and 900,000 international students. There were also 143,870 people who entered Canada illegally to request asylum.
The Liberals have since announced measures to slow the trends down, including a cap on international students and a reduction of temporary residents and foreign workers.
Singh had previously criticized claims that immigration was a cause of the housing crisis, despite economists stating that it has been a contributing cause.
Singh also took aim at Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre during his speech on Tuesday, accusing him of being opposed to abortion rights, being anti-worker and being against protecting the environment.
“Pierre Poilievre has made it clear that he is opposed to unions,” claimed Singh. “He wants to take away dental care from seniors, he wants to end pharmacare before it even begins, he doesn’t believe in birth control for women.”
Singh then went on to claim that Poilievre “allowed in legislation that was an attack on a woman’s right to choose from one of his Conservative members,” referring to Bill C-311, a bill which sought to protect pregnant women. The bill, introduced by Saskatchewan MP Cathay Wagantall, did not have the word “abortion” mentioned anywhere in its text.
Singh also took aim at Poilievre’s belief in a small, limited government.
“The Conservatives believe that governments should do less, they should be smaller, they should be less in the way of large corporations,” said Singh. “That means they shouldn’t get in the way of them polluting or dumping toxins into the water, to the air, to the land… be less involved in big corporations ripping off Canadians.”
Singh says such a belief “only benefits the powerful,” while also sharing his vision for a more powerful government.
“I believe the government has the power and the responsibility to make people’s lives better, to invest in solutions, to take on the powerful,” said Singh.
