Jagmeet Singh’s NDP win turns the tide in more ways than one: Hébert

Singh did draw much support from the South Asian community. And he probably had an easier time getting his vote out because it was more concentrated than that of his rivals.

But without his supporters the NDP might have been hard pressed to fill even the mid-sized Toronto hotel room it had chosen to hold Sunday’s leadership event. And the audience would certainly have been less diverse.

It is that diversity that will likely stick in the minds of the strategists of the other parties — in particular the Liberals. The NDP will still come at them from the left, but it will offer multicultural Canada the added attraction of bringing a long-awaited element of diversity at the head of the federal table.

Singh could not be more different from Thomas Mulcair — the leader he succeeds — but they have in common that they are power-driven political figures. They both play to win.

Will Singh’s victory further damage the fragile bridge between the NDP and Quebec? To that question there is no definitive answer. But then it is not as if any of the also-rans had emerged as much of a Quebec favourite. One way or the other, Singh will have an impact in the province.

He does not hold a seat in the House of Commons and he is unfamiliar with federal politics. The first matters less than the second. Part of Mulcair’s underestimated legacy is a caucus that is more than up to the task of holding the parliamentary fort — in French and in English.

Singh already has a parliamentary leader at his disposal in the shape of Nathan Cullen, the popular British Columbia MP and former leadership contender who supported Singh’s bid.

The issues will be different, or at least the angle on them will take some getting used to. But some of the dynamics Singh encountered as a member of the Ontario legislature will be familiar. That starts with a progressive electorate whose first concern is to keep the Conservatives — be they of the Mike Harris or the Stephen Harper brand — out of power.

It also includes an incumbent who is attractive or at least not as offensive as the Conservative alternative to many left-leaning voters. On that score, Scheer has to be hoping that Singh will give Trudeau more of a run for his money, for it usually takes a divided progressive vote for the Conservatives to win power.

A word in closing: some NDP strategists had hoped it would take one more ballot to elect a leader, if only to keep the media spotlight on the attention-starved party a little while longer.

But for better or for worse for the New Democrats, Singh’s arrival on the federal scene is a story that will be more compelling for far longer than a week of leadership machinations.

Chantal Hébert is a national affairs writer. Her column usually appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Read more:

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When pigs fly only then an Indian will be Pm in Cda

That crazy white lady helped his campaign

That's as far as he can go, politically.

kp posted:

That's as far as he can go, politically.

hey...you never know

As a consistent NDP supporter and voter, I woke up this morning to this piece of great news. Now is not the time to consider Jagmeet Singh's chances of becoming Canada's prime minister. The significance of Singh's promotion lies in the fact that the NDP embraces diversity and inclusiveness at its highest level. Not so with the Liberals or Conservatives.

Maybe another 100 years Cda will embrace such a change but right now the white people not ready

This makes it easier for Justin Trudeau.s reelection. 

Amral posted:

Maybe another 100 years Cda will embrace such a change but right now the white people not ready

One of the perspective on the political stream.

Note ... Ujjal Dosanjh was the premier of British Columbia and later became a prominent MP and Minister in the Federal Government, Canada.

He was born in India and emigrated to Canada.

Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh in a 2004 file photo.  (CHUCK STOODY / CP)

One of the numerous sources

Source --  https://www.thestar.com/news/c...statue-in-india.html

Also specifically on the focus on Indians; whether from India, Guyana, Fiji, Trinidad, etc., etc, etc., former inhabitants from these countries attained prominent positions in the provincial and federal government.

kp posted:

This makes it easier for Justin Trudeau.s reelection. 

Justin Trudeau has broken many of his promises, example reforming the electoral process. In his victory speech after winning the election he restated to the public that the next election will be the last under First Past the Post system. Trudeau will undoubtedly lose a lot of the young voters. While Jagmeet may not win the election, the NDP will reduce Trudeau's majority and bring the Liberals into minority. All those British Columbia ridings may become orange come next election. 

Jagmeet Singh is an Iron Man:

Read more about Jagmeet.