NDP MPs voice support for Singh, play down tensions inside caucus
OTTAWA — Federal New Democrat MPs closed ranks around embattled leader Jagmeet Singh on Wednesday as they blamed a steep learning curve for many of the trials and tribulations that he has experienced since taking over the party last fall.
But with the 2019 federal election looming, the question hovering over Singh is whether he can find his footing — and get his caucus on his side — in time.
The most recent challenge to Singh’s leadership came this week after several caucus members chastised him for punishing veteran MP David Christopherson, who broke ranks with his party to support a Conservative motion.
The motion condemned the Liberal government’s new policy forcing groups that apply for funding under the Canada Summer Jobs program to affirm, among other things, their respect for a woman’s right to an abortion.
While a longtime supporter of a woman’s right to choose, Christopherson said he couldn’t support what he believes is an unconstitutional policy that requires churches and other religious groups to disavow their beliefs to qualify for funding.
Singh removed Christopherson as vice-chair of the powerful procedures and House affairs committee — a move publicly criticized by caucus members.
Singh announced late Tuesday that Christopherson had been reinstated, and NDP MPs sought to put the episode behind them on Wednesday.
Among them was former leadership contender Charlie Angus, who had told the Globe and Mail on Tuesday that the decision to punish Christopherson had stunned caucus members and showed “a lack of respect.”
In an interview with the Canadian Press on Wednesday, Angus welcomed Christopherson’s reinstatement, even as he and others played down talk of a rift between Singh and his MPs.
“Many members of caucus voted for him in the leadership race, so he’s got a strong base and we’re a pretty solid caucus,” Angus said.
Christopherson emphasized in a statement that Singh has “shown himself to be a strong leader,” and said he has “complete trust in his leadership.”
Yet the Christopherson episode was only the latest in a string of controversies for Singh, several of which have involved disagreements with his own caucus.
Singh faced a backlash last week for not taking a stronger stance against the use of violence by Sikh separatists. He backtracked last year after saying a judge who speaks an Indigenous language but not French should be eligible for the Supreme Court.
Angus complained in January about the party putting too much emphasis on social media rather than talking to the grassroots — a comment that coincided with the party plastering pictures of Singh’s engagement to girlfriend Gurkiran Kaur on Twitter.
Some observers have said Singh, who doesn’t have a seat in the House of Commons and has instead spent much of his time as leader crisscrossing the country, doesn’t spend enough time in Ottawa.
Former NDP national director Karl Bélanger said that it is imperative Singh and his MPs resolve their issues now if they want to have any hope next year.
“As we get closer to the election,” he said, “people are eager to have a sense of where the party’s going.”