‘Campaigns matter,’ NDP leader tells Winnipeggers, despite party’s flagging numbers in province

New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh, unbowed by dismal polling numbers in Manitoba, forged ahead with stops in Winnipeg Wednesday, telling supporters that “campaigns matter.”

“If you want someone that’s going to defend public health care, vote for a New Democrat; if you want someone that’s going to defend workers’ rights, vote for a New Democrat,” he said at a union office on McPhillips Street.

“I really believe that campaigns matter, campaigns have a big impact — it’s an opportunity for us to let people know what we are proposing, what is our vision for this country, what is our value offer to you and your families.”

A Free Press-Probe Research poll, released March 20, showed local NDP support had plummeted; the numbers suggested the party is at risk of losing its three seats in Manitoba — two in Winnipeg and one in the north.

The survey put the New Democrats at just nine per cent in both Winnipeg and across the province, a plunge of 20 and 24 percentage points, respectively, since December.

The Liberal party, led by Mark Carney, has gained significantly since the departure of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, at the expense of the New Democrats.

The Conservative Party of Canada also dropped significantly from its wide lead in December to second place in the recent local poll.

Singh is the third federal party leader to visit Winnipeg since the writ was dropped March 23. Election day is April 28.

“We have shown you that when you elect a New Democrat… you get someone that’s going to be there fighting for you,” he said in response to a question about his message to voters who view the election as a two-horse race.

“Re-elect your New Democrats that fought for you, and elect more of them to stand up for you and your family.”

Singh argued that without NDP MPs, workers will be ignored.

Leila Dance, incumbent in Elmwood-Transcona, and Niki Ashton, incumbent in Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, said they were confident they’d be re-elected, at Singh’s morning event.

Dance, who won her seat in a byelection last fall after NDP MP Daniel Blaikie stepped down, said she’s not afraid of a rematch against Conservative candidate Colin Reynolds.

“People in my community know me and know of me, have known me for years, and can really know that I was a voice long before the byelection started. I’ll continue to be a voice for them,” Dance told reporters.

Ashton, who was first elected in 2008, said she is focused on getting out in her riding to visit communities.

“We are hearing real, positive support on the ground because the people know the NDP fights for Indigenous and northern communities, fights for our region, my home, that we stand strong and we deliver,” Ashton said.

Winnipeg Centre candidate and current MP Leah Gazan did not attend the morning event. A party staffer said she was at the another engagement but did not specify.

Singh delivered coffee to striking workers and walked the picket outside Battlefield Equipment Rentals on Irene Street and McGillivary Boulevard Wednesday afternoon.

The 27 strikers, who work as mechanics, drivers and in other roles at the heavy equipment rental facility, are represented by Operating Engineers of Manitoba Local 987.

They began striking on Monday. Union business manager Marc Lafond said the strikers are seeking sick leave, among other demands, in a new collective agreement.

“These workers are demanding the basics that every worker deserves: respect at the workplace, a safe workplace and fair pay,” Singh told reporters as he was flanked by the strikers.

He said New Democrats will always show up at picket lines and argued Liberals and Conservatives don’t.

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“We’re real friends of labour, we’re real friends of workers, and we always will be,” Singh said.

Singh met with NDP Premier Wab Kinew on Tuesday evening, where they discussed blunting the pain of American tariffs on Manitoba workers.

At his morning event, Singh cited earlier announced NDP proposals, such as increasing employment insurance payments, building an east-west electricity grid and putting money collected through retaliatory tariffs into affected sectors such as steel and auto manufacturing, as his party’s response to America’s threatened economic measures.

— with files from The Canadian Press

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Erik Pindera
Reporter

Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020.  Read more about Erik.

Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.