Singh to stick with Burnaby as gambling sidelines Grewal
OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he still intends to run in a federal byelection in British Columbia, even though a friendlier riding in his hometown of Brampton, Ont., has suddenly opened up.
Singh said Friday that he has chosen to make Burnaby South his federal political home.
“I’ve made it clear, my decision to run in Burnaby South, and I continue to remain clear on that decision,” he said.
On Thursday, Liberal Raj Grewal announced he is resigning immediately as the MP for Brampton East for unspecified personal and medical reasons.
On Friday, the Prime Minister’s Office said Grewal’s resignation was prompted by a gambling problem.
Singh would likely coast to victory in Brampton East, the riding he represented for six years in the Ontario legislature, now held provincially by his brother Gurratan. Burnaby South, which the NDP won by just over 500 votes in 2015, will be a tougher slog for him.
When he was first elected federal NDP leader last fall, Singh intended to wait until next October’s general election to gain a seat in the House of Commons and he said Brampton East was where he wanted to run.
However, under intense pressure to get into the Commons sooner after a shaky start as leader, Singh announced in August that he would run in an eventual byelection in Burnaby South.
That seat was vacated in midSeptember by former NDP MP Kennedy Stewart, who ran successfully to become Vancouver’s mayor.
Early in the new year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to set an early-February date for byelections in Burnaby South and at least two other vacant ridings. He could also add the now-vacant Brampton East to the roster.
Meanwhile, the PMO issued a statement saying that Grewal had informed the office this week “that he is undergoing serious personal challenges and that he is receiving treatment from a health professional related to a gambling problem that led him to incur significant personal debts.
“Based on these circumstances, we agreed that his decision to resign as Member of Parliament for Brampton East was the right one. We hope he receives the support he needs.”
The statement, issued in response to numerous media inquiries, went on to say: “We are not aware of an investigation by the Peel Regional Police. We are aware of inquiries by the RCMP regarding the circumstances that were the subject of a complaint to the ethics commissioner about Mr. Grewal earlier this year.”
Ethics watchdog Mario Dion launched a formal inquiry last May after two opposition MPs expressed concerns that Grewal might have been in a conflict of interest when he invited a construction executive — who was paying Grewal for legal services at the time — to official events with Justin Trudeau during the prime minister’s trip to India early this year.
The conflict-of-interest code prohibits MPs from using their positions to further their private interests or to improperly further another person’s interests.
It’s not clear what prompted the PMO’s reference to the Peel police, and a spokesperson for the force declined to comment.
“We do not confirm if we are investigating an individual or if there is an active investigation,” said Const. Akhil Mooken.