Jagmeet Singh walked away after joining NDP candidate Bonita Zarrillo and local volunteers during a sign-waving event on election day in Port Moody, B.C., Monday, April 28, 2025. The Canandian Press
Jagmeet Singh announced Monday night that he will step down as the leader of the NDP. His decision came after a major loss in the federal election. Singh not only lost his own seat but also watched his party drop to what looks like a single-digit seat count across the country.
Singh gave his resignation speech in Burnaby, British Columbia, surrounded by a group of supporters. His voice trembled with emotion. At the time of his speech, he stood in third place in his riding. The Conservative and Liberal candidates both had more votes than him, with Singh getting less than 20 percent of the total.
Across Canada, the NDP appeared to be leading in just seven ridings when Singh stepped up to speak around 9:30 p.m. local time. That number raised concerns that the party may lose its official status in Parliament.
Despite the rough night, Singh stayed hopeful during his speech. “Obviously, I’m disappointed we could not win more seats. But I’m not disappointed in our movement,” he said. “I’m hopeful for our party. I know we will always choose hope over fear and optimism over despair and unity over hate.”
A few NDP candidates managed to hold onto their seats. These included Alexandre Boulerice in Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, Leah Gazan in Winnipeg Centre, and Jenny Kwan in Vancouver East. These wins gave some life to a party that otherwise saw widespread losses across the country.
Meanwhile, in Vancouver Kingsway, veteran NDP member Don Davies was in a close race with a Liberal challenger. The final result for that riding was still not clear when Singh gave his speech.
More than a dozen NDP incumbents are likely to lose their seats once all votes are counted. This includes several well-known figures within the party. The NDP's poor performance shocked many, especially given Singh’s national presence and his strong social media following.
Singh became the leader of the NDP in 2017 and made history as the first person of a visible minority background to lead a major federal political party in Canada. Over the years, he gained popularity among younger Canadians and pushed for progressive policies. However, that support didn’t translate into enough votes on election night.
Now, the NDP faces a tough road ahead. Losing so many seats and possibly official party status means the next leader will have to rebuild from the ground up. Singh’s departure marks the end of a chapter, but also opens the door for a new direction.
