Canada's NDP

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Jagmeet is a lawyer, a human rights activist and the Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party.

Jagmeet Singh grew up in Scarborough, St. John’s, and Windsor, and served as an Ontario MPP from 2011 until 2017. On October 1st, 2017, he became leader of Canada’s NDP – guided by values rooted in his experiences growing up, Jagmeet is building a fairer, more just Canada where everyone can realize their dreams.

His family shares a story similar to that of so many Canadians

Jagmeet’s parents came to Canada to build a better life. His family worked hard to make ends meet so that Jagmeet and his younger siblings could follow their dreams and believe that anything is possible.

“The biggest influence in my life is my mother. As a kid, she taught me that we are all connected. That we are all one. She explained to me that if one person is suffering, then we are all suffering.”

Jagmeet refused to let the challenges he faced growing up define him.

Like others who stand out, Jagmeet faced a lot of bullying in school and felt like he didn’t belong. But even then he realized he wasn’t alone.

The values that guide him today are rooted in his experiences growing up.

Jagmeet’s early experiences are what shaped him and fuel his passion for justice. He developed a sensitivity to the unfairness that others experience, and in solidarity, committed himself to fighting injustice in all its forms.

“I saw kids around me—kids no less capable, no less worthy of respect and dignity—who were not in a position to follow their dreams, simply because their families couldn’t afford it. That struck me as incredibly unfair.”

As a child, Jagmeet found solidarity in unexpected places.

Jagmeet’s parents told him that in their childhood, their language was not respected, which caused them a sense of shame. He discovered that the Québécois have faced similar pressures in relation to their language and identity and quickly understood the parallels. At the age of 13, he began to learn the french language which stayed with him for the rest of his life.

Jagmeet stepped up to help his family through hardship.

During university, Jagmeet’s father became ill and his parents were unable to work. Jagmeet became the sole income earner for his family, working retail jobs, and doing his best to support his siblings until their father was back on his feet.

This is what drove Jagmeet to believe that better is possible.

At university, he was an outspoken activist who fought against raising tuition fees. He studied law so he could support community organizations fighting poverty, keeping tuition affordable, and advocating for equal access to justice for marginalized communities.

“The same way I'm not afraid of calling out systemic discrimination, I'm also not afraid of calling out inequality and the fact that inequality is growing in society and that affects everybody, regardless of race.”

Jagmeet made the jump into politics in 2011.

The people and communities Jagmeet fought for needed an ally in government – so he decided to run. Right from the start, Jagmeet was told that a New Democrat could never win a seat in the Peel Region. He refused to believe the cynics.

“The groups I worked with—fighting against poverty, against tuition fees, and inequality — felt unsupported. They didn’t have an ally they could turn to in government. They needed a partner.”

Jagmeet believes that the key to success is in empowering young people.

By mobilizing young people and providing a space for them to take on leadership roles in their own community, Jagmeet and his team proved the critics wrong and won – and Jagmeet went straight to work.

“I believe that when you create a safe space for young people to take on leadership roles, you’re investing in them - you’re giving them the opportunity to take on responsibility and be a part of something larger than themselves.”

As an MPP, Jagmeet continued his fight for fairness.

Jagmeet used his platform as an MPP and Deputy Leader of Ontario’s NDP to fight for a fairer society. He took on the discriminatory practice of arbitrary police checks known as carding. He spoke up repeatedly on the need for good jobs and an end to precarious work. And he fought for the protection and expansion of public ownership over our utilities and public infrastructure.

“The defining feature of the NDP - of every New Democrat - is that we are not only offended by inequality, we put everything we have into fighting it.”

Jagmeet launched his campaign to be leader of Canada’s NDP on May 15th, 2017

He believes that Canada can be a place where we all rise, together. He ran a campaign focused on inequality, climate change, reconciliation and electoral reform.

“To make progress on these issues, to truly make Canadians’ lives better, we owe it to Canadians to form government.”

On October 1st, 2017, Jagmeet became leader of Canada’s NDP after a first ballot victory.

As leader, Jagmeet is putting everything he has into building that Canada – he is determined to fight for solutions people urgently need right now. That means fighting for good jobs to combat growing inequality. It means a real plan for our environment that includes workers and their families. It means pursuing true reconciliation with Indigenous communities.

“I hope I represent a type of politics where we bring people together, where we inspire people - and we do it with this motivation of building a world that's better for everybody.”

Jagmeet and Gurkiran married in February of 2018

Gurkiran, an entrepreneur and humanitarian, tied the knot with Jagmeet early in 2018, just a few months after helping to elect Jagmeet as the Leader of Canada’s NDP. Gurkiran and Jagmeet were excited to announce recently that they’re expecting their first child.

During the pandemic Jagmeet delivered for Canadians

Jagmeet and the NDP used the minority government to deliver for Canadians. When Trudeau wanted to give families only $1000 a month for CERB, Jagmeet made him double it. When he wanted to cap CERB at 16 weeks, Jagmeet made him extend it to 28 weeks. When he wanted to give employers only a 15% wage subsidy Jagmeet fought and won to increase that to 75%.

“This is an unprecedented moment for our country. Canadians need a government that has their back – not one that’s only trying to look like they care while delivering nothing of substance.”

This election, Jagmeet is fighting for you.

This election is a critical moment for Canada. Families are struggling to get back on their feet while the very wealthy see their fortunes grow. The climate crisis is destroying our communities and temperatures continue to rise. Indigenous communities still don’t have clean water to drink despite countless promises from the federal government.

But Jagmeet is fighting for you. He’ll make sure the wealthy are paying their fair share. That Canada is a world leader when it comes to solving the climate crisis. That we’re taking real and impactful steps towards reconciliation. Unlike Trudeau’s empty talk, Jagmeet is ready to deliver for Canadians.

“I am focused on building a stronger Canada, a country where we tackle growing inequality, where we unlock the full potential of our citizens and where no one is left behind.”