About that 'reporter' whose questions Jagmeet Singh refused to answer
Rebel Media's Keean Bexte was part of an online company selling Rhodesian and apartheid South African flags and war memorabilia
https://ricochet.media/en/2766/about-that-reporter-whose-question-jagmeet-singh-refused-to-answer
NDP's Jagmeet Singh kicks off final week of campaigning with advance vote in Burnaby South
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and wife Gurkiran Kaur cast their ballots at an advanced polling station Sunday in their riding of Burnaby South.
Updated: October 13, 2019
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and wife Gurkiran Kaur cast their ballots at an advanced polling station Sunday in their riding of Burnaby South. ARLEN REDEKOP / PNG
It was a quick and easy process on Sunday as NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and wife Gurkiran Kaur stopped in their home riding of Burnaby South to cast their ballots in the advance poll.
The couple arrived at the Burnaby Neighbourhood House Community Hall around 9:30 a.m. with a small team of handlers, and each marked their ballots separately before casting their votes into a ballot box together. Singh shared a joke about whether it was an easy decision before making his way out of the voting station, the first of three major stops on Sunday.
“This is an important place for us,” Singh said later of spending the final days of his campaign in the Lower Mainland. “We’ve got a lot of great New Democrats that care deeply about the goals we have … so I want to build off of that and take that energy across the country.”
BURNABY, B.C.: October 13, 2019 – Wife Gurkiran Kaur double-checks her ballot with husband NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh while voting at Burnaby Neighbourhood House in Burnaby, B.C, October 13, 2019. ARLEN REDEKOP / PNG
After casting their votes, Singh and his wife walked back to the campaign bus parked a short block away, stopping to shake hands with residents and supporters before taking questions from the media.
Flanked by about a dozen young supporters holding bright orange signs, Singh addressed the Liberals’ current line of attack, suggesting a vote for the NDP could be a vote for Conservatives.
“I think for a long time, Liberals and Conservatives have taken people’s votes for granted. They just assume that they’re going to vote either Liberal or vote Conservative and I want to say – no one owns your vote,” said Singh.
“No one has any right to your vote, certainly not the Liberals or the Conservatives. Certainly not the powerful people who have been putting so much pressure and making decisions happen in Ottawa that have benefited the rich but not people.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh (right) and his wife Gurkiran Kaur hold a press conference after voting at Burnaby Neighbourhood House in Burnaby, B.C., October 13, 2019. ARLEN REDEKOP / PNG
Singh also fielded questions about security after a Liberal rally was delayed Saturday evening in Mississauga, Ont. after a security threat prompted Leader Justin Trudeau to wear a bulletproof vest under his shirt and jacket. He condemned threats such as the one made against Trudeau and maintained he felt safe with his security team.
“I’m not too worried about myself … but I do know a lot of people in their lives feel afraid,” said Singh. “There’s been radicalization of people that are targeting new Canadians and immigrants and that’s scary. We know that that’s had some real impacts.
“I’m worried about the young folks – they don’t have all the security and protection that I have, I’m worried about that.”
A heckler yells at Jagmeet Singh during a rally the crowd at Grand Taj Banquet Hall in Surrey, BC, October 13, 2019. ARLEN REDEKOP / PNG
When asked whether his feelings had changed about partnering with the Conservatives in a minority government scenario, Singh was firm in noting he did not agree with Leader Andrew Scheer’s politics, suggesting the Conservatives’ tax cuts would be accompanied by increases in the costs of services.
“The Conservatives are going to lower people’s taxes a little bit, they are definitely going to do that – they’re not lying about that,” said Singh.
“But what they’re not telling you is when they lower your taxes a little bit, the services you count on are going to cost a lot more. It’s actually going to cost your families a lot more in the long run.”
RELATED
While much has been made of the way Singh handles himself during confrontations, both with other party leaders and with members of the public, wife Gurkiran said she is “in no way surprised” by his calm and collected demeanour.
“It’s true to who he is, it’s true to his nature,” she said. “Anything comes his way – first, he’ll rationalize it and then he’ll articulate the words. He never gets upset easily either so I’m not in any way surprised.”
Khalid Boudreau is an NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh supporter and participated in a press conference near Burnaby Neighbourhood House in Burnaby, B.C., October 13, 2019. ARLEN REDEKOP / PNG
Khalid Boudreau, 20, was among the NDP supporters who came out Sunday morning. Boudreau became involved with the NDP during the byelection and this month will be his first time casting a vote in a federal general election.
“What it comes down to, first thing that got me in the doors – I see myself,” he said of why he was voting for Singh, citing his background and upbringing.
Jagmeet Singh rallies the crowd at Grand Taj Banquet Hall in Surrey, BC, October 13, 2019. ARLEN REDEKOP / PNG
Boudreau said what kept him on as an NDP supporter is that the party’s platform includes “regular people” like himself and Singh’s ability to take climate fears, housing concerns and other voter issues and direct them towards action.
“We’re very upset – and channeling that into a positive vision is something that Jagmeet has shown that he excels at,” said Boudreau. “I think that’s what’s drawing people in my age bracket and me toward this campaign.”
Later in the day, Singh was scheduled to appear at a rally in Surrey and a volunteer blitz in Port Moody–Coquitlam.
I note Jagmeet had a large rally in Surrey BC.
The Sikh vote was heavily Liberal in the last election.
Does anyone have any insight into The NDP prospects under Jagmeet in heavily Sikh ridings in Surrey, Brampton, Calgary and elsewhere?
I note Jagmeet had a large rally in Surrey BC.
The Sikh vote was heavily Liberal in the last election.
Does anyone have any insight into The NDP prospects under Jagmeet in heavily Sikh ridings in Surrey, Brampton, Calgary and elsewhere?
I don't know about the others but you can forget about Calgary, that's going Conservative.
I note Jagmeet had a large rally in Surrey BC.
The Sikh vote was heavily Liberal in the last election.
Does anyone have any insight into The NDP prospects under Jagmeet in heavily Sikh ridings in Surrey, Brampton, Calgary and elsewhere?
I don't know about the others but you can forget about Calgary, that's going Conservative.
That may be true about this election cycle. However, the areas that the Liberals won last time are urban areas that if they were in any other part of the country would be left-leaning and not even in contention for the Conservatives. They also overlap with the areas of Calgary that never voted for right-wing parties, no matter how badly the Liberals did. When the Alberta Liberals imploded, they flipped to NDP and still are. I suspect that had both Liberal MPs not had the personal problems that they had that they could have held those seats regardless of polling shifts elsehwere in the province. Nicky is correct that with good community organizing, these seats can permanently come out of the Conservative column.
I thought Singh throwing out yesterday that the NDP might consider working with the Liberals read: coalition was brilliant strategy, and it stops dead the nonsense of strategic voting which always benefits the Liberals. Strange dat! Unfortunately Trudeau lied to Canadians about PR
The Liberals are never ever to be trusted, which is one of the reasons why some Canadians would prefer the Conservatives, because at least they admit they are the NDP’s enemy, as opposed to the deceitful Liberals who say they are your allies during the election campaign, and then sell progressives out the day after the election. So it's understandable some people question which are worse - the Liberals or the Conservatives!
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/beta.ctvnews.ca/national/federal-election-2019/2019/10/14/1_4637733.html
And he continued to warn voters away from the New Democrats, calling that a path to a Conservative government that would hearken back to the Harper era.
In 2014/15 Trudeau said he would never pitch strategic voting because that meant you weren't good enough to win on your own merits or something to that effect. It was around the time he said he wouldn't do negative campaigning for the same reason.
I so wish those clips could be found now or media quotes.
Jagmeet Singh joins striking Vancouver hotel workers on picket line Thanksgiving Monday
VANCOUVER–Descending the steps of his campaign bus in front of a downtown Vancouver hotel, Jagmeet Singh was a welcome sight for Nym Calvez and her colleagues.
Calvez was among the crowd of striking hotel workers outside the Westin Bayshore on Monday afternoon — some of whom chanted “Jagmeet! Jagmeet! Jagmeet!” — as the NDP leader arrived.
“He is the first big politician leader who has come and supported us. He could be our next prime minister,” Calvez told Star Vancouver. “It’s a big deal.”
...
Last week, the B.C. Federation of Labour called on the public to boycott the four major hotels — the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, Westin Bayshore, Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront and Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Workers at all four hotels are unionized under Unite Here Local 40. Workers at the Westin, Pinnacle, and the Hyatt are under one bargaining unit while workers at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia are in another bargaining unit.
The union members say they have resorted to a strike because they want stable working hours and safer working conditions.
Today's global news headlline reads: NDP surges at expense of Liberals and Conservatives - this is huge and its real!
See this morning election polls - NDP Vote growing heading for the peak on Monday Oct 21st & The First NDP Govt of Canada with PM Jagmeet Singh
Singh proposes abolishing the Senate
https://www.kitchenerpost.ca/news-story/9644537-singh-proposes-abolishing-the-senate/
Did you know that the NDP has by far the most number of female candidates at 166 and has 49% gender parity for women
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh spoke to media in Toronto on Oct. 15, focusing on what sets the NDP apart from the other parties.
Reflecting on the rise of Le Bloc yesterday, I thought Singh needs to go back to Quebec ASAP. Imagine my surprise this morning when I turned on the TV to see Jagmeet holding a presser there. Whoever is directing the NDP campaign has some political smarts. They seem to know what to do and when to do it. Good on them.
'Beyond appearance': Singh makes pitch to Quebec voters on shared values
Singh puts Concordia ER on federal election map
Singh's campaign trail strength has silenced his critics within the NDP
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jagmeet-singh-ndp-2019-election-1.5323151
Is Jagmeet Singh the best hope for salvation? Or the most dangerous man in Canada?
by Martyn Brown on October 16th, 2019 at 10:00 PM
2 of 3
Fair warning: this essay is a very long read.
Let me answer my own headline, right up front.
Jagmeet Singh just might be both: the best hope for salvation and the most dangerous man in Canada.
Cool your jets, cut me some slack, and I’ll tell you why.
For the Orange Bolt that is Jagmeet Singh—the proudly different man of colour who is electrifying this election for so many young, new, and otherwise progressive Canadians—is getting set to zap Canada to the core.
With new hope for the future in his leap of faith, as the new face of a more inclusive and socially just Canada that is all about defying its previous limitations, expectations, and unspoken social compact.
With new political power that he is determined to leverage as he might.
Initially, to bend Trudeau to his will, and to then convert into a national movement of lasting energy and consequence that will forever change the course of Canadian history: a true social movement that posits him as its most passionate, adroit, and politically popular champion and quarterback.
In his own way, Jagmeet Singh just might be the Canadian political equivalent of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
The guy they call Danger Mouse for his deadly effectiveness in escaping impossibly bleak scenarios, avoiding furious on-rushers, defying those intent on sacking him, and converting “sure losses” into startling gains and mind-blowing wins.
As most sports fans know, Wilson is the “little guy” who was supposedly too short to fare well in his position. The guy who came out of nowhere to win the Super Bowl in 2013, and nearly did again the following year, driven by the underdog motto “why not me?”
He is the evolving legend whom everyone underestimated and who is currently on track to be the NFL’s MVP—dangerously efficient, razor-sharp, and never to be counted out as a comeback hero of mythic proportions.
In his own way, Jagmeet Singh just might be the Canadian political equivalent of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
Democratic socialism on the march
Jagmeet Singh is no less that dangerous type for his opponents and fans alike. A genuine sensation in his own right.
And though he has zero chance of becoming Canada’s prime minister in his rookie outing, Singh’s performance in 2019 makes him more than a long-shot bet for winning that top job in the next election.
Which is not to say he is without serious faults and impediments that also represent potential real threats to his own success and to our nation’s collective project of national unity.
However overblown those concerns mostly are, they are rooted in kernels of truth that Albertans understandably fear most of all.
Yet, it should be clear enough to all voters at this point that Singh is the real-deal New Dealer: a true believer and an infectiously optimistic presence who is not to be trifled with, or discounted, in his quest for transformative governance.
He is the great nonwhite hope for the socially progressive Canada that Prime Minister Blackface can never hope to impersonate, embody, embrace, or deliver.
Not only this year’s model, as it were. But also next year’s seminal force for a type of substantive change that Trudeau only pretends to reify in tinkering at the margins of the innately subversive form of governance that Singh aspires to one day lead.
Which, by another name, is honest to goodness democratic socialism.
Damn the torpedoes and to hell with the naysayers who maintain that it threatens the very fabric of Canada as we know it.
Blue Liberal elitists most of all. The ones who fundamentally own Justin Trudeau’s never truly sorry behind.
And they should be as terrified as Tories for the threat to their social order that Singh’s leadership, party and ideology represent.
Dangerous? Damn right.
Insofar as Jagmeet is a bona fide pop-up phenomenon who stands to permanently alter the political landscape in ways that will help Canada to finally confront and heal its painfully ugly failings of white privilege, denial, injustice, neglect, inequity, and ignorance.
Because he is indeed a certified radical in the best and worst sense of that word.
Not unlike Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination contest. Or for that matter, Green party leader Elizabeth May, whose prescription for tackling the climate crisis makes Singh’s plan look positively passive in comparison.
Which is to say that Singh is hardly “extreme” as an ideological ally of those increasingly mainstream American alternatives to the far-right lunacy of Donald Trump, or some would say, Andrew Scheer and his so-con ilk.
As NDP Quebec lieutenant Alexandre Boulerice looks on, Jagmeet Singh gives a warm embrace to Jack Layton's widow, Olivia Chow.
JAGMEET SINGH
Singh's vision comes at a stiff price
Yet, no one should misconstrue Singh’s profoundly challenging intent, or sell short his capacity for inviting a new form of Canadian identity crisis.
One that at its most basic level pits the Canada-that-was firmly in conflict with the Canada of the future that he and most progressives envision and seek to realize. A nation at odds with its past and at war with its will to change as need be to honour its largely false global claim as a beacon of tolerance, social justice, and new-world liberalism.
If Singh indeed proves to be the most dangerous man to Canada and/or its best hope for salvation, it will be because he represents a paradox of promise and potential that carries with it amplified risk of uncertainty and unintended consequences to Confederation.
For his far-reaching “New Deal for People Like You” progressivism aspires to truly radical redistributions of wealth and to a massive expansion of government and publicly funded entitlements.
Chief among them, a national pharmacare program, a national universal dental care program, a national universal childcare program, and much more.
All to be financed on public credit and via massive tax hikes on “the rich and powerful” individuals and corporations who would be obliged to “pay their fair share” of Canada’s already sagging and increasingly holey social safety net.
And that vision is not just inspiring in its bold and sweeping prescription for fostering greater social equity and individual equality of opportunity and outcome; it is also inherently divisive, in tone as well as substance, particularly, in its tiresome and politically motivated resort to class warfare.
When the dust settles on election night, Singh will no longer be simply the lovable peace seeker and seemingly harmless agent of change who dares to offer Canada something different that speaks to its higher angels.
He will immediately morph from his current status as a dubious demagogue of laudable intent, to become an active player in deciding the power game at hand and more importantly, a credible prime minister-in-the-making.
He will instantly become the thing that conservatives of every partisan stripe fear the most: an empowered prophet who has their privilege in his cross-hairs, with charisma to burn, God (or something like it) on his side, and the sweep of history in his corner.
A newly relevant leader who can no longer be dismissed as insignificant and whose cachet is mighty beyond his party’s numbers.
Who shines for the systemically disenfranchised and politically disaffected, as something of an antidote to a world gone mad: too complacent for its own good, too indifferent to its own ills, too myopic to “leap” forward, and too stupid to even save its common home from its own threatening hand—and cooking itself to death.
One who is bent on a sociocultural crusade that is politically rooted in permanently rocking the millennial vote, to affect a seismic shift in power aimed at advantaging the disadvantaged. Proudly and vocally, at the expense of the wealthy and variously privileged.
One who is equally bent on a socioeconomic revolution that threatens to irrevocably alienate much of the West, resource-dependent communities, and small-c conservatives across the land. Trudeau’s cross to bear, in the near term, nailed to it by dint of Singh’s helpful hand as a needed ally in any minority Liberal government.
One whose self-certain zeal for social healing paradoxically stands to deeply scar our nation anew, and heighten its ideological, class, and economic tensions.
Which is why, for better and worse, love him or not—Singh is the most dangerous force for those who fear either a Conservative government or a minority Liberal government, insofar as both outcomes largely ride on the strength of his appeal and electoral success.
In the zero-sum power game that neatly correlates NDP seat gains with Liberal seat losses, Singh seems destined to deliver on one or both of those “threats”, starting with the latter one.
First, by increasing the odds of a hung parliament and a minority government, wherein his surging NDP holds the balance of power, or he at least becomes a kingmaker.
Second, by putting Canada’s most dangerously deluded, regionally divisive, fiscally irresponsible, and ethically unhinged prime minister back in office. If only for a little while, until Trudeau finally fatally falls on his own sword and his minority government collapses.
Third, by wielding his own personal appeal and newfound political power to push Trudeau ever further to the left.
And in the process, sacrifice the Liberals’ right flank to Jason Kenney’s full-frontal assaults and to the Harperesque appeals of whomever replaces Scheer as the federal Conservative leader, if he fails to win a majority.
And fourth, by positioning his party as the most legitimate progressive voice for the New World Order that is anathema to both the Old Guard parties. The wished-for world that Trudeau weakly surrendered to Big Oil (ironically) and Big Money through his dishonest failed policies of appeasement.
All of the polls show Singh’s popularity soaring, with Angus Reid reporting the NDP now tied with the Liberals at 26 percent support in British Columbia, some six points behind the front-running Conservatives.
That sets the stage for the launch of Jagmeet 2.0, as a viable contender for the crown that he and his party covet.
Hannah Thibedeau✔@HannahThibedeau
Singh had a good crowd in Montreal with some good lines that made the crowd react. Including his new line “Les progressistes, c’est nous”. #cdnpoli #canadavotes #elxn43
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Singh dances with abandon
It took Jack Layton eight years and four elections to leapfrog the Liberals as Canada’s most politically potent force for displacing Harper’s unprincipled conservatism with a new style of progressivism that "le bon Jack" embodied.
It might only take Singh three years and two elections to trump that feat and make history as Canada’s first federal NDP government and as Canada’s first prime minister of colour.
No thanks to Quebec, in Singh’s case.
And in spite of the regional and racialized opposition to his leadership, ideology, and affirmative vision that so many Tiny Tories and small Canadians now pray will make it “impossible” for him to ever lead this land in government as its prime minister.
To paraphrase Russell Wilson, why not he?
That is the serious question that millions of Canadians will shortly be asking themselves, in the wake of Singh’s Hall of Fame performance in this election and in contemplating his “long bomb” now in beautiful flight.
No matter how many seats the NDP wins on October 21, all that remains is for Canada’s progressives to grab that ball and run with it. Undaunted by the very real threats on the horizon that are attendant with that undertaking.
Don’t kid yourself, Singh’s force of personality, promise, and charisma is a double-edged sword.
It might be as dangerous as Justin Trudeau’s, to the extent that it is empowered through a Liberal coalition minority government and misapplied for partisan self-interest masquerading as public good.
Singh is certainly not above that, as evidenced by his hypocritical message on vote-splitting, which I addressed at length in my last article in the Straight. And equally, by his weak-kneed stance on Quebec’s racist Bill 21 and by his fiscally irresponsible and disingenuous attempts at vote-buying.
On issues where his partisan interests collide with firmly principled “bottom lines” that are otherwise consistent with his espoused progressive ideal, he is hardly a paragon of virtue.
Hence his equivocation on politically unpopular and hard climate action. Including in respect of his party’s support for the Canada LNG project and on using his hoped-for balance of power to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
Not deal-breakers for Singh at all in handing Trudeau back the reins of power, evidently, which might be some consolation for Albertans apoplectic at the increasingly likely prospect of a Liberal minority government, largely courtesy of the NDP.
To say nothing of Singh’s apparent readiness to let Trudeau wholly off the hook for his unlawful political interference on Lavscam. To instead reward Trudeau with a new lease on life in office, despite his wanton frustration of the ethics commissioner and the RCMP in examining his conduct on SNC-Lavalin as a potentially criminal obstruction of justice.
Which is to say, Singh is no saint and the badge he wears on his ideological sleeve is bound to disappoint.
Yet his strengths of charismatic leadership also hold out the best hope for making Canada the progressive nation it purports to be and aspires to become, to the extent that he is put in the strategic position to wield his gifts of power and persuasion with the conviction that Trudeau lacks.
To right the wrongs that Trudeau failed to address and too often made worse in his self-righteous effrontery, hypocrisy, deceit, and even illegal abuse of power and privilege.
In short, to actually lead Canada forward in ways that the Liberals chose not to seriously attempt. Be it in tackling the climate emergency, poverty, homelessness, the need for affordable housing, the fentanyl crisis, or meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
And certainly not by redistributing some of Canada’s considerable wealth from each according to his or her ability, to each according to his or her need, as Marx’s credo lives on.
Jagmeet Singh✔@theJagmeetSingh
I'm so honoured to have the support of Grand Chief Stewart Phillip. Together, I know we can build a future with people at the centre of everything we do.#elxn43 #cdnpoli
462 people are talking about this
Authenticity is Singh's brand
With only days to go until the ballots are cast and counted, the new world is Singh’s oyster.
Because if Singh holds the balance of power in a hung parliament that sees Andrew Scheer’s party winning a plurality of seats, he will use his strength of numbers to deny a Conservative government, “whatever it takes.”
Because in that scenario, Trudeau will be prepared to sell out his party—as Christy Clark was prepared to do in B.C. in 2017—to keep his job.
And should that come to pass, Singh will have serious leverage to extract concessions, be it through a coalition government, or not (hint—not), in service of his six “urgent” priorities for action.
Because if Scheer somehow miraculously emerges with a majority government, an unlikely scenario dependent on the NDP winning dozens of seats at the Liberals’ expense, Singh will be the left’s most compelling voice in Ottawa for advancing its agenda, broadly defined.
In part, because Scheer would move Heaven and Earth to ensure that Singh’s NDP remains a relevant progressive vote-splitting force in outperforming Trudeau or his successor as Liberal leader. Which would bode well for the Conservatives’ longer-term goals.
Because even if Trudeau wins a minority or a majority that will essentially allow him to take Singh’s support for granted, he won’t be able to stop the tide of change that Singh will marshal to the NDP’s long-term advantage.
Because Trudeau is now exposed as a liar and a phony, who long ago lost his moral compass and whose own defining motto is “no direction, home.”
By which, the Conservatives’ attack ads have got him all wrong: he is, in sad fact, exactly what he appears.
As I previously noted in the Straight, Singh’s “millennial appeal is all about who he is: his redeeming brand is authenticity and his unique selling proposition is his own difference.”
And those attributes, in support of his motivation and message, are what make Jagmeet so dangerous as a refreshingly constructive flag-bearer for positive and necessary rainbow-coloured change whose time has come.
I’ll bet his NDP will win at least 35 seats, maybe more.
But regardless of what happens on election night, Singh’s proven himself a winner.
If you think Jack Layton was the epitome of NDP success, think again.
I predict Singh will take his party to new heights of success next election, and for the first time ever in Canada, will be a real contender for government.
Especially if Doug Ford continues to wreak havoc in Ontario, and Trudeau crashes and burns as seems hell-bent on doing, out of his depth as he is, and classically inclined to stupidly engineer his own fall.
The NDP is back with a vengeance and ready to party.
The party that almost everyone had down and permanently out for the count is now up on its feet and dancing like there’s no tomorrow.
Because it can see as clear as a crisp fall day that, for Canada, “tomorrow” has arrived at last, or is at least glowing confidently orange on the horizon.
And come what may, whatever his faults and attendant risks, Jagmeet Singh is today’s best hope for a new day worthy of Canada’s promise. Dangerous in the best way.
How Jagmeet Singh became Canada’s spokesperson for race in the 2019 election
'Coalition' isn't a dirty word: Singh
https://election.ctvnews.ca/coalition-isn-t-a-dirty-word-singh-1.4642681
Up 8% to 20%
Up ? to 21%
Not too shabby Jagmeet
Keep it up and the NDP could be looking at possibly 25% support!
Debrief at the Desk: Lisa LaFlamme speaks with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh
CTV National News: Debrief at the Desk
NOW PLAYING
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh sits down with CTV News Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme to discuss his party's policies.
CTVNews.ca: Extended interview with Jagmeet Singh
NOW PLAYING
Watch the extended interview between CTV News Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
CTV National News: Debrief at the Desk
TORONTO – As talk of minority governments and future coalitions dominates the final week of the campaign, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is attempting to win over left-leaning voters by portraying his party, instead of the Liberals, as the true progressive choice to counter the Conservatives.
Singh has been making use of a recent bump in his personal popularity to drive home his key platform pledges, which include the introduction of universal pharmacare, the creation of affordable housing, scrapping the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, climate change action, a tax on the “ultra-rich,” and interest-free student loans.
In the fourth and final of CTV News Chief Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme’s interviews with the major federal party leaders, Singh discusses what he would do in a minority Parliament, Bill 21, and how he would work with premiers.
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Lisa LaFlamme: Thank you so much for making time to join us tonight. I want to start with some clarification on the possibility of a minority government. You seem to have kind of wavered on the question of coalition. Do you support one or not?
Jagmeet Singh: So I'm open to anything. My plan is this: I believe that in the next Parliament, I want to be prime minister. I want to be able to implement the promises that we've made, the commitments we have to make people's lives better. But I'm open to working in any way that Canadians choose, whether it's in opposition, whether it's in a coalition, whether it's in a minority or whether it's in government. I want Canadians to win. That's my goal – whatever makes Canadians’ lives better.
LaFlamme: So if the Liberals end up with a minority government and Justin Trudeau comes to you and offers you a coalition deal including cabinet ministers, would you accept that?
Singh: So that's not my, it's not my priority to lay out exactly the path forward. It's just that my openness to doing whatever it takes to deliver on the things that Canadians need. So I'm open to whatever. I made it clear I'm not willing to work with Conservatives – but beyond that, I'm open. And my plan is this: I think that if Canadians vote New Democrats and they elect as many New Democrats as possible, like enough of us, we can form government. But if not, we can deliver on the things that we've talked about: pharmacare for all; dental care; the program to tackle the high cost of cell phone and internet. We can actually deliver real action for people fighting the climate crisis in a meaningful way,if you elect New Democrats.
LaFlamme: I want to get to some of those topics in a minute. But first of all, on something you just said – so if it does end up Monday night with a conservative minority government and you say you will not, in fact, I think this morning you said you don't respect conservatives--
Singh: I don't respect their cuts. I don’t respect the steps that they take. I don’t respect--
LaFlamme: So it wasn't conservative voters, you’re saying, why you didn’t go to Alberta.
Singh: Oh, no, of course not. I mean, my campaign is about including all people, respecting all people. But I don't believe that cuts are the right thing to do. I've fought provincially and I'll continue to vote federally against the idea of cutting services to people. I think it's wrong.
LaFlamme: So, OK. Andrew Scheer said today, first job one – if he gets the minority government or a majority government – is cutting the carbon tax Jan. 1. What would you do in that situation. if that's his first order of business? Would you vote that down and trigger a snap election? I think Canadians really want to understand what's on the table.
Singh: Well, I can make it really clear when it comes to the price on pollution. There is a price to pollution. And I believe that what we should be doing is making sure the biggest polluters pay their fair share. When Mr. Trudeau hasn't done is that he's in fact exempted the biggest polluters and put all the burden on families. I believe that the biggest polluters should be the ones who are paying their fair share.
LaFlamme: But would you vote down that in a minority situation? Would you vote down the bill? Andrew Scheer’s bill in January, which could possibly trigger an election?
Singh: I mean, it's too much of a hypothetical. I can tell you, generally speaking--
LaFlamme: It isn’t--
Singh: Yes, it is too much of a hypothetical. What I can tell you is this, that Canadians can expect from a New Democratic government to deliver the services that their families need. People can expect from New Democrats that we're going to fight for them. And that we’re certainly not going to work with Conservatives.
LaFlamme: So you won't. OK, you're not going to work with conservatives. So you would vote down their bills and you would potentially trigger a snap election.
Singh: What I'm saying is this, I can put it clearly: I'm not accepting your frame. I'm saying that what Democrats are gonna do is we're gonna fight for people.
LaFlamme: I guess people, Canadians, want to know, though. I mean, are they looking at another election sometimesdepending on the outcome?
Singh: But that's, that's one way of framing it. I'm saying that if New Democrats are elected, we're going to fight for the things that Canadians need. Whatever that means, we're gonna look at every scenario as it comes up and say ‘How does this advance the lives of Canadians with the priorities that we put forward? Does it help us build more housing? Does it help us build a better health care system? Does it help us tackle affordability? Does it help us tackle the climate crisis?’ Those are our values, and we're going to do everything we can to advance those things that Canadians need
LaFlamme: More than ever I think, this campaign, race has truly played a part in it, and you have been an inspiration to so many Canadians. On Bill 21, however, there are still those who were looking for more from you, this unwillingness to intervene in that Quebec legislation. What do you say to those Canadians who sort of look to you to put personal convictions ahead of political goals?
Singh: Well, what I've said very clearly on this is that there's a court challenge and that court challenge is going on right now. And they're doing exactly what they should be doing, which is to challenge a law that theydon’t agree with in Quebec, with the laws that exist to protect people. And that's importantthat We do not interfere with that. What I want to do is this. I know that if. There's 70 percent of people believe a certain law is good, then changing a law is not enough challenge, that law in court is not enough. I want to win over the hearts and minds of people. And what we're seeing is the work that we've done to show folks I'm someone that believes in the rights for women to choose. I strongly believe in women's rights to access people's rights, to access abortion services. I believe in the right to die with dignity. I believe in same sex marriage. I believe in the climate crisis and fighting it. And I wear a turban and I have a beard. And people are showing to wondering, Quebec, you know what? There's some of that. Whereas a religious symbol, but believes in all the same values as us. But then we have Mr. Scheer, who openly says he does not believe in a woman's right to choose. He is not supportive of the same sex marriage rights. And he's someone that doesn't really understand the urgency of the climate crisis. Maybe we've got it mixed up and we're seeing change happen. And that to me is the bigger goal is to win over the hearts and minds of people. [00:05:49][67.4]
LaFlamme: You know the law, you know the wording of that bill. You have said that of bill 21, you want this, you know, you will intervene when it goes to the Supreme Court.
Singh: That wasn’t exactly what I’ve said.What I've said is, I said that as a statement of fact, that any law that gets to the point where it's challenged and brought to the Supreme Court, any prime minister would then have to look at it.
LaFlamme: Isn't that leading from behind, though?
Singh: Well, no. I mean, I'm a person that wears a turban, that goes to Quebec regularly, gets asked this question every time I go there and gets to show the people of Quebec that maybe this isn't the way to go ahead, that divisive laws don't really build a better society – and we've seen the impact. We've seen discussions on Facebook and social media, people who were once very supportive of the law, saying, ‘You know what, maybe this doesn't make sense.’ We've heard it on talk show radios where people are saying, ‘You know what, Mr. Singh is someone who shares our values. This law doesn't really make sense. ‘
LaFlamme: I think there was a there was a collective gasp that day at that interaction at the Atwater Market in Montreal – the man who came up to you. Do you see that as racism or ignorance?
Singh: Well, I see it as something that exists and happensto a lot of people where they're told that they don't belong because of the way they look, and that they have to change to be welcomed in society. That happens all too often for many people, not just because of their appearance, but also their sexuality, their gender, the colour of their skin. I've met many colleagues, women colleagues who tell me about barriers they face because of their gender. So there's lots of barriers in society. And I want people to know I've experienced a little bit of those barriers and I want folks to know that I will fight as hard as I can to build a Canada where people don't face any barriers based on who they are.
LaFlamme: Now, the Canada you say you want to build and we've heard your pitch over every day, it depends so much on provincial support. And at the moment, the provinces, many of them are barely speaking to the federal government. So how are you going to push your goals with and get the support of the provinces?
Singh: Well, it's important that we work with provinces. Three of our goals, though, don't require provincial work. We want to waive all interest for students who have student federal loans. We want to make sure that there is a national dental care program, which would be a national federal program.
LaFlamme: But on the ones that require--
Singh: The third one is as to reduce the costs of cell phone and Internet. That's a CRTC fully, federally mandated. We can put in a price cap and make sure that data plans are truly unlimited. But with the plans that are provincial, we're going to have to sit down and do the hard work. I believe we've got powerful tools at the federal level where we can encourage positive things to happen. We can negotiate strong deals, and – with our pharmacare plan, for example. I can't imagine a province that when approached with this offer, you're already spending money on medication. Each province is, they already have a form of a pharmacare when people and patients go to a hospital. Most of their medication is covered. So provinces are already buying medication. What we're proposing is for the same amount that you're already spending, not a cent more, we'll put up $10 billion federally and be able to deliver medication coverage for not just the patients in a hospital, but for every person in the province. I can’t imagine a premier that could say no to that – and if they did, the political cost would be very deadly. And I think that that's the powerful force of this argument is that it's so compelling. It is so doable. And every other country in the world that has a universal health care system has pharmacare that's universal and public. We can do it here.
LaFlamme: Finally, what is your goal for Monday night? Give me a seatnumber.
Singh: My goal is to be prime minister of Canada. But at the end of the day, it's not about me winning. I want Canadians to win. So my goal is to make sure that Canadians win no matter what.
LaFlamme: OK. Thank you so much for spending some time with us on a very busy week, and we wish you luck. Thank you.
Singh: Thank you.
NDP would ‘encourage’ provinces to improve delivery of health care, Singh says
https://globalnews.ca/news/6043937/ndp-would-encourage-provinces-improve-health-care-delivery/
I don't have time to read all that long essay now, but will get back to it. It is a bit repetitive and could use an edit.
I disagree with the author about Law 21, not because I agree with that bigoted legislation (not racist, but that is splitting hairs, I suppose) but because it is up to people in Québec to deal with it.
Here is an interesting article from Ricochet that I had missed. It seems to be only in the English version; often such articles are translated.
https://ricochet.media/en/2764/advocates-say-decommodified-housing-and-f... The NDP would need a serious turn to the left to actually fight for decommodified housing (things like land trusts, co-ops etc) and free, universally accessible public transport, but there are forces around the LEAP, the Réseau écosocialiste etc that actually do espouse such demands and struggle for them.
There is too much thread proliferation here right now. It makes the boards very difficult to follow.
Thanks, we needed that.
Good on Jagmeet Singh to confront Mr Scheer
NDP says Scheer lied about GST pact with the Liberals
https://ipolitics.ca/2019/10/18/ndp-says-scheer-lied-about-gst-pact-with-the-liberals/
I don't have time to read all that long essay now, but will get back to it. It is a bit repetitive and could use an edit.
I disagree with the author about Law 21, not because I agree with that bigoted legislation (not racist, but that is splitting hairs, I suppose) but because it is up to people in Québec to deal with it.
...
There is too much thread proliferation here right now. It makes the boards very difficult to follow.
I find it fascinating that Singh is being attacked for not interfering in Quebec's politics especially since the Greens on VI are running against Premier Horgan's Site C and LNG not the federal party. It remains to be seen how that will play out for them.
Many Candian "progressives" seem to be yearning for a central government that will impose its views on the country. Count me as an opponent of that kind of federal state.
I think that North Report should be banned from starting anymore threads for a week and most of the election threads should be closed so that we can have a coherent discussion instead of pages upon pages of MSM pap posted by the same person in multiple threads.
Here is a great article from the Tyee. It really highlights that the NDP path to victory is supplanting the Liberals in our diverest and densest cities.
The 25 per cent of ridings with the densest populations range from Brossard—Saint-Lambert on Montreal’s South Shore with 2,037 people per square kilometre to Toronto Centre, with 17,785 people per square kilometre. (Skeena-Bulkley Valley in B.C.’s northwest had less than one person per square kilometre.)
Of the 85 ridings, 67 elected a Liberal MP and 11 an NDP candidate — 92 per cent were won by a progressive candidate.
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2019/10/18/Demographic-Data-Riding-Vote-Elec...
Here is a great article from the Tyee. It really highlights that the NDP path to victory is supplanting the Liberals in our diverest and densest cities.
The 25 per cent of ridings with the densest populations range from Brossard—Saint-Lambert on Montreal’s South Shore with 2,037 people per square kilometre to Toronto Centre, with 17,785 people per square kilometre. (Skeena-Bulkley Valley in B.C.’s northwest had less than one person per square kilometre.)
Of the 85 ridings, 67 elected a Liberal MP and 11 an NDP candidate — 92 per cent were won by a progressive candidate.
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2019/10/18/Demographic-Data-Riding-Vote-Elec...
It certainly makes it clear that immigration can change the politics of the host country depending on which countries the immigrants are coming from.
Singh did not say it was up to the people of Ontario to deal with Doug Ford's threat to use the Notwithstanding Clause. But of course there is only upside for the NDP (or Liberals, who took the same position) to bash Ford.
This is why the NDP has formally requested an emergency meeting of the Standing Committee on Justice to gather input from expert witnesses and discuss ways of working together with the provinces to protect the rights of Canadians.
The NDP has long defended the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that unites Canadians around fundamental rights including freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association and will continue to stand up for the rights of Canadians."
Interestin'
People Can’t Stop Watching This Jagmeet Singh TikTok Meme
Meanwhile, Justin Trudeau is nowhere to be found on TikTok.
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/3kx4jj/people-cant-stop-watching-this-jagmeet-singh-tiktok-meme
Campaign brings NDP leader Jagmeet Singh through downtown Nanaimo
Singh says his party has ‘momentum’ heading into election day
Canada Election: Jagmeet Singh holds UpRiSingh rally in B.C.
Face to Face with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh
Zaid nails it.
NDP promises to establish national care standards for seniors
October 18, 2019
In long-term care facilities -- also referred to as nursing homes -- experts recommend a minimum care standard of 4.1 hours. The number refers to the direct interaction between caregivers and residents per day.
"I think [the 4.1 hour care standard] is very important. It's been proven by several studies that it's really the minimum that people should be receiving per day," says Melanie Benard, a director at the advocacy group Canadian Health Coalition.
According to the CHC, no province has an established guideline that meets that minimum standard. Jurisdictions such as Ontario -- where the quality of care is marked with high levels of violence -- do not have a standard at all.
Other provincial guidelines fall below that standard. For instance, CHC points out that Manitoba's 3.6 hours of minimum care includes time spent on non-care related tasks such as staff meetings, training and administrative tasks.
"We specify direct care because sometimes the calculations are based on any type of interaction for the residents, including things like doing laundry," Benard says. "And that is not direct care."
Navigating provincial autonomy
While health care is a provincial matter, Benard says the federal government can provide leadership through adequate funding for Canada Health Transfers and setting national standards.
The NDP is the only party to call for a national care standard, but it hasn't committed to specifics.
Malcolm Allen, former NDP MP and current candidate for the Niagara Centre riding says that a federal NDP government would have to establish a national standard in concert with the provinces.
"We want to make sure that when we sit down [to negotiate] and we have that standard written, everybody's on board across the country saying, 'Yes, we're going to do it,'" he says.
Care standards and the profit motive
Any improvement in the direct care provided to long-term care residents hinges upon the level of staffing. However, staffing is also contingent on the ownership of homes.
Currently, 44 per cent of long-term care homes in Canada are owned by for-profit operators. In provinces like Ontario, where 58 per cent of facilities are for-profit, the government subsidizes all homes.
The CHC's report on seniors' care cites research from several provinces that indicates that government-owned and non-profit homes provide better care as they can afford to hire more staff. Conversely, for-profit providers tend to cut costs by hiring less staff.
The overburdening of staff creates poorer outcomes not just for seniors but also for a largely woman-dominated, immigrant workforce that faces burnout, high levels of injury, and unsafe working conditions.
Allen affirms the NDP's stance that health care should be delivered without the need to make a profit.
"It's pretty simple arithmetic. [Having for-profit operators] simply costs additional funds because somebody has to drag a profit out of that," he says.
"And if they don't drag it out by [the government] giving them more money, then they'll find ways to cut things around the edges so that they can do their business."
According to Statistics Canada, for-profit companies in the residential and long-term care sector had a nine per cent operating profit margin in 2015.
Rising costs
The case for public ownership is made stronger by the cost projections of last week's National Institute of Ageing report, which estimates long-term care (including home care) costs would more than triple by 2050 to $71 billion annually from the current $22 billion.
Benard says public ownership is one way of addressing costs and delivering care more efficiently, while also emphasizing better allocation of resources.
"The focus is always on how much things will cost but we also have to look at how much we'd be saving as well," Benard says.
"For example, we're already spending inordinate amounts of money by keeping people in hospital when they are ready to be transferred to long term care facilities or sent back home, but they can't access the home care they need [because of lack of funding]. So they're sent back to hospitals [which is more costly]."
A holistic approach
The CHC has called for a national care strategy for seniors that is based on a holistic approach. Targeted spending on seniors alone is not sufficient, it says, if the overall health care system is not well funded.
Its recommendations include better federal funding, a national pharmacare plan, affordable housing for seniors and extending the principles of the Canada Health Act to long-term care and home care.
The CHA makes federal funding for provinces contingent on public administration, accessibility, comprehensiveness, universality and portability.
"We're calling for the criteria from the Canada Health Act to be applied to seniors care as well," Benard says.
When asked if an NDP government would consider amending the CHA to ban for-profit delivery of long-term and home care, Allen said the party would seriously need to consider the idea.
"We need to take a good hard look at that and see what are the tools we can use to get ourselves and get the provinces to build the public option over time," he said.
One of those tools would be educating the public. In his experience, people are generally not aware of profit-making in long-term care.
In Ontario, Allen says, people go through the local health unit to access care and don't interact directly with private companies.
"We have to help folks understand the difference," he says. "Because when they know that, they'll go, 'Woah! Why are they making money off the backs of my mom and dad who need to live in a long term care facility?'"
Zaid Noorsumar is rabble's labour beat reporter for 2019, and is a journalist who has previously contributed to CBC, The Canadian Press, the Toronto Star and Rankandfile.ca. To contact Zaid with story leads, email zaid[at]rabble.ca.
http://www.rabble.ca/news/2019/10/ndp-promises-establish-national-care-standards-seniors
How many thousands , and I mean thousands, were at Jagmeet's downtown Vancouver rally today?
The more of Singh I see the more I like. Jagmmet certainly seems like the real deal, appears to have really blossomed during the campaign period, and will probably be a significant force in Canadian politics for years to come.
Once thing I very much appreciate is that when Kagmmet makes a mistake, what human doesn't, he doesn't try and deny it, run away or hide from it, he right away up fronts it, apologizes sincerely, and moves on. I think Jagmmet'a authenticity is one of the most appealing aspects of his character.
Singh campaigns on housing in Vancouver battleground
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh left his political rivals to trade barbs Saturday, focusing instead on affordable housing policy in a key battleground where his message had supporters flocking in droves to hear him.
He spoke with young people Saturday morning in Vancouver struggling under the weight of the housing market there. The NDP is starting to see some traction in the polls and Singh said he believes his message is resonating because he rejects the idea that Canadians should settle for less.
https://election.ctvnews.ca/singh-campaigns-on-housing-in-vancouver-battleground-1.4646235
How many thousands , and I mean thousands, were at Jagmeet's downtown Vancouver rally today?
Not sure how many people showed up at the Vogue Theatre for the rally, but the Capacity of the Vogue Theatre is 1200 people. So unless they were violating fire code standards, they would not have let more than 1200 people into the Vogue.
I was at the rally, and it was great. In amongst all the other things Jagmeet talked about, he talked about his meet and greet earlier in the day with tenants in the west end, many of whom told him heartbreaking stories about housing precarity and being issued eviction notices. A far better speech than I think Jagmeet would have given at the beginning of the campaign.
The NDP is hoping to win all the seats on Vancouver Island except for one
Jagmeet Singh Says Canada Lacks Polarization Of 'American-Style Election'
The NDP leader offers a silver lining to negative aspects of the campaign.
'I respect you, I value you': NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh appeals to young voters on eve of election
Singh posted two 15-second videos this week to the social media app TikTok highlighting his campaign's key messages — videos that have been collectively viewed over three million time
Sweet!
This photo of Burnaby's Jagmeet Singh says a lot
Chris Campbell / Burnaby Now
OCTOBER 20, 2019 10:39 AM
Burnaby South MP and federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh at a rally in Vancouver on Saturday.
You can see the prime location that Burnaby MLAs Janet Routledge and Katrina Chen were given behind party leader Jagmeet Singh.
You can see Burnaby North-Seymour candidate Svend Robinson on the right.
You also see Singh’s signature pose, with his right hand over his heart. Campaigns need signature moves and Singh's has resonated with people.
Singh has been campaigning, it seems, forever – going way back to when he was fighting for his political life in February’s Burnaby South byelection.
Then, once winning a seat as an MP, Singh has been racing across Canada ever since. Things have not been easy. The NDP’s polling was flat and sitting at anywhere from 10-15% if you even believe polls.
Now the NDP is sitting at about 18% depending on the poll, but far higher in B.C. One poll even has the NDP in second place behind the Conservatives in B.C.
Even better news for Singh is his personal approval rating, which has gone from 37% at the start of the campaign to 46%, according to Abacus Data. Read more here.
Although most pundits at first declared "no winner" of the main televised campaign debate, it seems pretty clear that Singh won it because his numbers seem to skyrocket after it. Singh showed his political chops, both in stating policy and firing off ziners.
As a side note, some of the polling bump comes from how Singh has handled rampant racism towards him on the campaign trail – like one white clown telling him to take off his turban to be “more Canadian.” It’s sad and pathetic to think that is what has sold some Canadians on Singh, but here we are.
This photo shows the “Singh surge” or the “UprisSingh” in full bloom, although I try not to put too much stock in rally crowds as a sign of political results.
Monday night is going to be crazy. Tuesday and the months ahead will likely be even crazier for Canada.
