P.E.I. NDP excited by new federal leader

New Democrats in P.E.I. are celebrating the surprise firstballot win of their new federal leader, Jagmeet Singh, this weekend.

Joe Byrne, who is on the executive of the federal NDP, says while he was personally supporting Guy Caron for leadership, he was excited to learn Singh had emerged as the victor.

“I think he’s got a set of really progressive ideas that resonate with people on many different levels, and secondly, he’s just super articulate,” Byrne said.

“People just have an ability to connect with him on a visceral level.”

Singh made history Sunday when he became the first nonCaucasian leader of a federal political party. He won the race handily, garnering 53.8 per cent of the eligible ballots, well past the margin required to win on the first ballot.

His youth, social media savvy, stylish attire and attention-grabbing messaging have pundits already declaring him Justin Trudeau 2.0.

But P.E.I. NPD Leader Mike Redmond says he believes Singh offers something more than the current prime minister.

“I don’t see any challenges in him facing off with Justin Trudeau because I think he has more substance than Mr. Trudeau.”

Byrne agreed, saying he believes Canadians, including many former NDP voters, flocked to Trudeau in the last federal election mainly because he was different from former prime minister Stephen Harper.

“But what we’ve seen is, well, pick your issue. Is it transparency, is it the murdered and missing Indigenous women inquiry, is it this tax disaster that has befallen them, is it the promise of proportional representation? He’s not delivering,” Byrne said.

“I think with Jagmeet, his progressive stands on issues are not words, they are actions so he will be able to take on Trudeau.”

Singh will also have to face the challenge of leading his party from outside the rail, as he does not currently have a seat in Parliament.

But Redmond says this will allow him to focus on building the party and its coffers in preparation for the next federal election.