In what may be one of the most consequential meetings for Canada’s New Democratic Party this year, the NDP’s national council is gathering this evening to select an interim leader following Jagmeet Singh’s surprise resignation announcement last week.
The closed-door virtual session, scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern, comes after Singh’s emotional address to caucus where he cited family priorities and the need for “new energy” in the party. His departure marks the end of an eight-year tenure that saw both electoral disappointments and significant policy influence through the supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals.
“This transition period is critical for our party’s future direction,” said longtime NDP strategist Karl Bélanger, who served as principal secretary to former leader Tom Mulcair. “Whoever takes this interim role will need to maintain unity while positioning the party for the coming leadership race.”
Sources close to the national council suggest the interim position will likely go to a current MP with parliamentary experience. Names circulating include veteran Charlie Angus, deputy leader Alexandre Boulerice, and parliamentary veterans Niki Ashton and Peter Julian.
The interim appointment comes at a politically delicate moment. Elections Canada filings show the NDP trails both major parties in fundraising, having collected just $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the Conservatives’ $8.7 million and the Liberals’ $4.2 million.
Yet the party maintains significant leverage in Parliament through its agreement with the Trudeau government, which secured implementation of dental care and pharmacare framework legislation in exchange for supporting the minority Liberals on confidence votes.
“The interim leader will have to decide whether to maintain that agreement or chart a new course,” said Kathleen Monk, former director of communications for Jack Layton. “That decision alone could reshape federal politics heading into the next election.”
In Regina last weekend, Singh reflected on his leadership journey while speaking with supporters at a community center. “We’ve pushed for things that people said weren’t possible – dental care, pharmacare steps, better housing policies. The work continues beyond any one person.”
The timing of a leadership convention remains uncertain, though party officials suggest it will likely be held within six to eight months. The NDP constitution requires the national council to establish leadership race rules within 90 days of a leader’s resignation.
Behind the scenes, potential leadership candidates are already making calls to gauge support. Party insiders mention Manitoba MLA Wab Kinew, former MP Svend Robinson, and current MPs Leah Gazan and Matthew Green as possible contenders, though none have made formal announcements.
For Canadians outside political circles, the leadership change raises questions about the stability of federal policy initiatives. The NDP-Liberal agreement has delivered progress on dental coverage for children and seniors, with the program set to expand to all qualifying Canadians by December.
“Voters I speak with care less about who’s in charge and more about whether their medication will be affordable or if their kids can see a dentist,” said Lori MacDonald, a community organizer in Halifax who works with low-income families. “The interim leader needs to keep those priorities front and center.”
Recent polling by Abacus Data shows the NDP holding steady at 18% support nationally, though the party has struggled to translate that into seat projections that would significantly increase their parliamentary presence.
The interim leader announcement is expected late tonight or early tomorrow morning, with a formal press conference likely to follow at the party’s Ottawa headquarters.
For many New Democrats, this transition represents both challenge and opportunity. As one caucus member who requested anonymity put it: “Eight years is a good run for any leader. Now we have a chance to reconnect with our base and bring
