Singh loses the election but keeps his integrity

While others played politics, Jagmeet Singh chose principle. And paid the price

Interview requests

At first glance, it seems New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh was the biggest loser in the 2025 Canadian federal election. The NDP went from holding 24 seats in the House of Commons to just seven. Singh also lost in his own riding of Burnaby Central, placing a distant third.

I’m not a federal NDP supporter and rarely vote for the party, but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe on election night when Singh acknowledged his defeat and announced he would step down as leader. Rarely does one see such humility and grace in a politician anywhere in the world. Singh made no excuses. He expressed deep gratitude to everyone who supported him on his political journey, from party members to his spouse and even his in-laws. Moments later, he was seen carrying his daughter, who will no doubt be grateful to have her father home more often.

Singh likely sacrificed his political career to deliver dental coverage and limited pharmacare. To pass these measures, he entered into a supply and confidence agreement with Justin Trudeau’s Liberals—a deal that allowed the minority government to remain in power in exchange for progress on NDP priorities. Many voters saw the agreement as the NDP propping up a government they were otherwise dissatisfied with, blurring the lines between the two parties and damaging Singh’s public standing. But from now on, when Canadians smile with healthy teeth, they will have Jagmeet Singh to thank.

The NDP has long played a vital role in shaping Canadian life, despite never forming a federal government. Our public health-care system was championed by Tommy Douglas, the longtime Saskatchewan premier and first leader of the NDP. It’s unlikely Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper would have apologized for Canada’s residential school system without NDP Leader Jack Layton urging him to do the right thing. Singh’s efforts to expand public health care fit squarely within this legacy.

Singh is also the highest-ranking Canadian political leader to speak out on behalf of Gaza’s suffering citizens. During the leaders’ debate in both official languages, Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet waffled on the issue of Palestine.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, however, took positions that drew criticism from groups such as the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC) and the left-leaning The Maple, an independent, reader-funded digital news publication, which argued that his remarks during the leaders’ debate failed to acknowledge the humanitarian suffering in Gaza and lacked compassion for Palestinian civilians. Singh, speaking for many Canadians, called Poilievre’s remarks dégueulasse—disgusting. His stance was notable given how cautious many Canadian politicians have been about taking strong positions on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Interestingly, the most vocal NDP caucus member on Palestine, Heather McPherson, was re-elected easily and is expected to serve as the party’s interim leader.

It’s hard to say how the 2025 election would have played out had U.S. President Donald Trump not threatened to make Canada the 51st state. His comments, interpreted by many Canadians as an overt threat to national sovereignty, sent shockwaves across the country and dominated the final weeks of the campaign. The fallout triggered a collapse in support for Poilievre’s “Maple-MAGA” rhetoric and cost him his own seat in Parliament.

Instead, Canadians handed Mark Carney—the former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor, and former vice-chair of Brookfield Asset Management, a leading global alternative asset manager—the chance to form a minority government, one that some view as more reminiscent of Joe Clark conservatism than Trudeau liberalism.

Preliminary evidence suggests many Canadians abandoned smaller parties out of fear of the American threat. While Carney appears competent, the loss of seats by the Bloc Québécois, the Greens and Singh’s NDP weakens the multi-party democracy that gives Canada its distinct character.

Thank you, Jagmeet Singh, for your contribution to Canada. You may not have been the greatest tactician or had the best political timing. Maybe you were simply too decent a human being for the game of politics. But Canadians are grateful for what you did. Your party will rise again because Canadians know it’s always had our backs.

Enjoy your time with your family, Mr. Singh. All the best in your next endeavour.

Gerry Chidiac specializes in languages and genocide studies and works with at-risk students. He received an award from the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre for excellence in teaching about the Holocaust.