Navigating Through The Silhouettes of Jagmeet Singh | Canada Elections 2025

Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), is standing for election in 2025 at a time when projections suggest the party is at risk of losing official party status. Two days before the election, Singh revealed a personal moment from two years ago that nearly led him to step down from leadership.

During a campaign event in London, Ontario, he shared that he had been warned by the RCMP about a credible threat to his life. "When I got that threat, I was floored," Singh told reporters. "I had chills thinking about what that could mean for my wife who was pregnant at the time, for my baby girl."

The threat emerged nearly a year before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged that Indian agents were linked to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, although the RCMP did not specify the origin of the threat at the time. Singh recalled discussing with his wife whether it was worth continuing in political life after the warning. "She was floored too, and she was afraid.

And I thought, 'Is it worth it for us to continue given a threat to life?' And so we chatted about it," he said, adding that he ultimately decided to stay on, particularly as the rollout of Canada's new dental care program began.

Throughout the 2025 campaign, Singh has tied his personal experiences with security threats to broader conversations around foreign interference and community safety.

"What about folks that are faced with these threats on a day-to-day basis? What about different community groups that constantly are living with the fear of threats to themselves, to their families?" he said. His comments have emphasised how issues of sovereignty, foreign interference, and the protection of minority communities have shaped both his political focus and campaign messaging.

This focus connects to long-standing elements of Singh’s political identity, notably his involvement in Sikh issues and Indo-Canadian relations.

Singh entered politics partly in response to statements made by former federal minister Ujjal Dosanjh, who warned of a rise in Sikh extremism in Canada.

In the early stages of his political career, he lobbied the Ontario legislature to recognise the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as an act of genocide. A motion he introduced in 2016 failed, but a similar motion succeeded the following year.

From Tensions With India To Quebec | What Does Singh Advocate For?

His advocacy on these matters also led to diplomatic tensions, including visa denials from India in 2013 and again in 2018, reportedly making him the first Western legislator to be barred from entering India for political reasons.

These issues resurfaced after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, when Singh called for diplomatic sanctions against India and proposed labelling the RSS, a right-wing organisation based in India, as a terrorist group.

Raised in Windsor, Ontario, Singh’s early life reflected the experiences of many working-class immigrant families. Encounters with discrimination and racial profiling shaped his views on systemic inequality and later informed his advocacy against carding practices in Canada, where he called for a federal ban.

His approach to policing and civil rights issues reflected a broader focus on addressing systemic racism in public institutions.

Economic and environmental policy shifts have also marked Singh’s leadership. Early in his career, he supported Kitimat’s LNG project in British Columbia, but later reversed his position amid Indigenous opposition and environmental concerns.

Proposals under his leadership have included plans to install electric vehicle charging stations at federal properties and incentives for home charging equipment, while opposing fracking and large-scale natural gas projects.

His stances have evolved alongside broader discussions on Indigenous land rights and resource development, particularly regarding projects affecting unceded Wet’suwet’en lands.

On Quebec issues, Singh has aligned with the NDP’s Sherbrooke Declaration supporting the province’s right to self-determination, while opposing Bill 21, which restricts religious symbols for public employees.

Though critical of the law, he stopped short of labelling it as racist and emphasised respecting the judicial process. His navigation of Quebec politics reflects an effort to balance provincial autonomy with minority rights, an approach that has drawn scrutiny from various sides.

Beyond provincial matters, Singh has voiced support for Canada becoming a republic, questioning the continuing relevance of the monarchy.

His platform has also included proposals to expand protections and rights for LGBTQIA2S+ communities, including reforms to blood donation restrictions, gender self-declaration policies, inclusive transitional housing, and mandatory competency training for police and healthcare providers.

On firearms policy, Singh has recognised regional variations in attitudes toward gun ownership. While avoiding a commitment to reinstating the long-gun registry, he has advocated for allowing municipalities to implement local handgun bans in urban centres grappling with rising gun violence.

As Singh faces voters in an election where the NDP’s future is uncertain, questions remain about whether his political strategies, policy shifts, and emphasis on personal experience will translate into electoral success.

With projections indicating challenges ahead, Singh’s performance in this election will likely determine not just the direction of the NDP but also his own political future.