NDP leader offers hope to local crowd

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This article was published 25/04/2019 (2512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Love and courage were the buzzwords Thursday for federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

“It means a lot to have the support and love,” he said, thanking the crowd at McNally Robinson Booksellers during the Winnipeg stop of his cross-country book tour for Love & Courage: My Story of Family, Resilience and Overcoming the Unexpected.

Singh said all political leaders write books in the run-up to an election, but he felt by telling his story of overcoming sexual abuse and his father’s alcoholism it could be something “that has an impact and helps people.”

He said he tried to “bury” his feeling about sexual abuse by a martial arts teacher when he was 10, and only opened up about it a decade later. “Once you love yourself, you can love the people around you and the community.”

About 150 people turned out for the event. Passersby also stopped to listen at the back of the room after Singh’s presentation began. A contingent of the local Sikh community was also in attendance.

“Getting to this place is a big success for him. It’s a big achievement,” one turban-wearing Sikh man said, adding it may be time for him to vote NDP federally. “Usually, I vote Liberal in federal elections. Provincially, sometimes I vote NDP.”

The NDP party machine was not on display, with few if any high-ranking members in attendance, lending the event a more personal vibe. (Spotted in the crowd were former city councillor Jenny Gerbasi and former MLA Marianne Cerilli.)

NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine played host to the event and engaged Singh in a 20-minute question-and-answer session. Fontaine established at the outset both she and Singh talk openly about the sexual abuse they’ve suffered so others can have “a sense that you’re not alone.”

“It is not your fault. You deserve love in your life,” Singh said.

Singh also disclosed he experienced “massive bullying” after age 10, when he chose to use his traditional first name, instead of the anglicized “Jimmy,” and tied his hair up in a traditional Sikh manner. The bullying only made him “double-down” on maintaining traditional Sikh ways, Singh said, sporting a dark-blue, double-breasted suit, open-necked blue shirt and a pale yellow turban.

Singh took questions from the audience as well. In terms of NDP policies heading into this fall’s federal election, the leader said there would be plenty of time later to unveil the party platform.

However, he did allow there will be an NDP version of the “Green New Deal” being touted in the United States, a stimulus program to address climate change. As well, his position on social programs is they should be available to everyone, not just people with means. He described how a public rehabilitation centre helped his father overcome alcoholism.

When an audience member asked him how he would deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, if elected, Singh said the president “comes across very much as a bully.”

“I think we have to stand up to bullies… (and) name the things he’s doing that are wrong, like misogyny, xenophobia, the supporting of hateful rhetoric that’s allowing hate to grow,” he said.

Singh also reminded the audience he knows martial arts.

“You know that pulling thing he does (when Trump shakes hands)? He might end up going for a little bit of a toss.”

 

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca