Jagmeet Singh steps down as NDP leader following a devastating election loss. The party loses its official status, and Singh reflects on the fight for a better Canada.
In a tearful concession speech that marked the end of a difficult electoral journey, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced his resignation following a crushing defeat in the 2025 federal election. The party, which had been struggling throughout the campaign, failed to secure the 12 seats required to maintain its official status in the House of Commons, a blow to Singh’s leadership and the NDP’s presence on the national stage.
Speaking from his campaign headquarters in Burnaby, B.C., on the night of April 28, Singh said, “Choosing to commit your life to politics obviously comes with some sacrifice, but we choose this life because of the chance to change the country you love for the better.” As his voice quivered with emotion, he added, “We may lose sometimes, and those losses hurt. But we are only defeated if we stop fighting.”
Singh, who had represented Burnaby South in the House of Commons since 2019, conceded his seat to Liberal candidate Wade Chang early on election night, a pivotal moment in a race that saw the NDP sidelined in favor of a two-way competition between the Liberals and Conservatives. Despite his efforts, including an impassioned last-minute push for his party’s policies, the NDP’s inability to resonate with voters on key issues left Singh’s political future in jeopardy.
A Party in Decline
The NDP’s loss in the 2025 election represents a significant shift for the party, which had previously secured a strong foothold in the House under Singh’s leadership. The party’s failure to secure enough seats to maintain its official status is a symbolic blow to its influence, and the defeat has led many to question the party’s direction in the face of rising Conservative and Liberal dominance.
Singh, who took over the NDP leadership in 2017, struggled to establish himself as the go-to leader in the context of Canada’s larger political struggles. For many, the election boiled down to one question: who could best deal with the economic and sovereignty challenges posed by U.S. President Donald Trump? Despite efforts to shift the party’s message, Singh never fully entered that equation, with most Canadians leaning toward either Prime Minister Mark Carney or Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
The NDP had a rough start to the campaign, with polling numbers indicating a sharp decline in support. Singh, facing tough questions about his inability to gain traction, shifted his campaign focus towards positioning the NDP as a balancing force in a potential minority government. His party’s success in pushing dental care and pharmacare legislation through a minority government was seen as one of the few bright spots in the campaign.
“We get stuff done, like dental care,” Singh said in a rally before the election results were finalized. “But we’ve got to remind people, it’s all because of you. Because you vote NDP, we’re able to fight for you.” Yet despite these claims, the party’s efforts fell short at the ballot box.
A Challenging Campaign and the Loss of Hope
In his resignation speech, Singh acknowledged the challenging nature of the campaign and the disappointment that came with the results. He spoke about the NDP’s struggle to carve out a meaningful role for itself in a polarized political landscape, where issues of economic security and Canadian sovereignty dominated the conversation.
Singh’s remarks were filled with regret but also resolve: “I’m hopeful for our party. I know that we will always choose hope over fear, and optimism over despair, and unity over hate.” Despite stepping down, Singh’s commitment to progressive causes remained strong, even as his political career faced a difficult crossroads.
Singh’s leadership will be remembered for pushing forward progressive policies such as the fight for universal pharmacare and dental care, but it will also be marked by the challenge of uniting a divided electorate during times of economic uncertainty. The NDP’s struggles, despite these efforts, reflect the difficulty in overcoming Canada’s entrenched two-party system.
The Future of the NDP
With the party now without its leader, many wonder what lies ahead for the NDP. Singh’s resignation has sparked speculation about who will step in as interim leader and how the NDP will attempt to rebuild in the coming years. However, Singh made it clear that the struggle for a fairer Canada would continue: “We’re only defeated when we believe those that tell us that we can never dream of a better Canada, a fairer Canada, a more compassionate Canada.”
In the aftermath of the election, the NDP will need to regroup and reflect on its future in a rapidly changing political landscape. As Canadians turn their attention to the Liberals and Conservatives as the dominant forces in the next Parliament, the NDP must decide how to re-engage the electorate and rebuild its influence, starting with the selection of a new leader.
Singh’s legacy, although shaped by this electoral defeat, will undoubtedly influence the party for years to come. Whether the NDP can recover from this loss will depend on the next steps taken by the party’s new leadership and how effectively they can harness the energy of their base in a more competitive political environment.
Stay tuned to Maple News Wire for further developments as the NDP navigates its future in a shifting political landscape. The challenges ahead are great, but so are the possibilities for a party determined to fight for a more just and equitable Canada.
