Meet Jagmeet Singh, Canada's first ethnic minority politician and New Democratic Party leader
Canada never had an ethnic minority politician to lead a major federal party in Canada until
Jagmeet Singh
, a criminal defence lawyer from Ontario, stepped into federal politics in 2017. At a time when his party is trying to regain momentum after years of supporting the Liberal minority government, the
New Democratic Party
leader has entered his third national election.
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However, polls show the lowest level of support for his left-wing party in recent years, which puts an additional burden on him in this election.
Singh was born in Scarborough, Ontario, to parents who immigrated from Punjab in India. He went on to study biology at the University of Western Ontario and law at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School before becoming a lawyer in Toronto. He spent time in Windsor, Ontario, and Michigan as a child, where he faced racism.
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A similar incident happened after entering politics when, in 2019, a voter asked him to remove his turban. Singh responded at the time by saying that Canadians look different but share common values.
A practising Sikh and a former Ontario provincial legislator, Singh entered politics in 2017 and soon became the leader of the NDP. In 2019, he won his first seat in Canada's Parliament through a by-election in Burnaby South, a district located just east of Vancouver.
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In 2022, he led his party into an agreement with the then-Prime Minister Trudeau's party. Singh, in return, secured commitments for a national dental care program and a framework for pharma care.
But the agreement ended in 2024 when he accused the Liberals of prioritizing corporate interests and profits over workers and societal welfare. After ending the agreement, the NDP became the last of Canada's three main opposition leaders to break with Trudeau.
A major setback came in his political career in late 2023, when he considered leaving politics after he was warned about death threats. But after discussions with his family members and advisors, he chose to continue his political journey.
At 46, he now leads the NDP into the 2025 election, and he stands against corporate power and for promises that only the NDP could be trusted to look out for ordinary Canadians. Singh also attacked the Liberal Party's Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump for shifting focus from relevant domestic issues.
As a former human rights activist, he pledges to forgive student loan debt and ensure that Canada's carbon emissions are reduced. He also promises universal prescription drug coverage.
Beyond politics, Singh has built a strong personal brand due to his calm attitude and well-tailored suits, which have largely contributed to his huge popularity on platforms such as TikTok.
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