An autoworker made a rude gesture toward NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh as he approached employees during a shift change at the Chrysler Stellantis plant in Windsor, Ontario, on Thursday, March 27, 2025, while on the federal election campaign trail. The Canadian Press
One year ago, Jagmeet Singh promised workers that the NDP would always stand with them. He told Canadians his party would fight for workers’ rights and support unions across the country. But only months later, his message fell flat. Singh faced cold shoulders outside an auto plant in Windsor as workers brushed past him. Some even said they preferred Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Election Results Tell the Story
The federal election proved what many had already suspected. The NDP lost Ontario completely, including strongholds in Windsor and Hamilton. The results confirmed that working-class support had shifted. For decades, unions backed the NDP without question. Now, those votes are no longer guaranteed.
Four Million Workers Hold Power
Senator Hassan Yussuff, a former Canadian Labour Congress president, said unionized workers—about four million—carry major influence. He explained that parties now work harder to listen to workers’ concerns. Both Conservatives and Liberals have adjusted their policies in recent years to attract these voters. Many NDP members quietly admit the party lost touch with its base.
NDP Admits the Struggle
Interim NDP Leader Don Davies said the party needs to return to its roots. He reminded Canadians that the NDP began in 1961 to give workers a national voice. Labour endorsements still came during the election, but on the ground many union members voted Conservative.
Conservatives Make Gains
Yussuff noted that unions never voted as a single block. Roughly one-quarter of members have long supported Conservatives. Amanda Galbraith, a Conservative strategist, said Doug Ford showed how a right-leaning leader could win over workers. She added that federally, Erin O’Toole had already started reshaping the party’s image away from “big business.”
She argued that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not connect with many workers, focusing instead on social issues that left space for Conservatives to move in.
A Global Trend
Steven High, a Concordia University history professor, said the shift fits a global pattern. Workers without higher education are turning toward right-wing populism. In Canada, that meant Conservatives captured ridings in steel and auto towns. He added that the trend could have been even stronger if Trump’s tariff fight had not disrupted Tory plans.
High said right-wing parties see a long-term chance to reshape politics. They have softened anti-union talk to court organized labour. He said the impact on policy remains unclear but added that the NDP’s decline has opened the door wide.
A Wake-Up Call for the NDP
Charlie Angus, a longtime NDP MP who retired before the last election, called the results a “wake-up call.” He said both unions and the party stopped listening to each other. He argued that the NDP forgot its original purpose of representing the working class. “We strayed from that mission,” Angus said.
