Jagmeet Singh wins NDP Leadership

By Angelica Haggert

At the age of seven, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh moved to Windsor and found it wasn’t always all roses.

“Like many others who stand out, I was picked on because I had a funny sounding name, brown skin and long hair,” Singh said on his website. “I faced a lot bullying at school and often felt like I didn’t belong.”

The Ontario MPP was named leader of the NDP with almost 54 per cent of the vote on Oct. 1. Singh is the third NDP leader to have been voted in on the first ballot, and the first non-white leader of a major federal party in Canada.

Brian Masse, Windsor West MP, endorsed Singh early on the path to leadership.

“New Democrats owe it to Canadians to form government so that we can make life better for millions of of people,” said Masse. “Jagmeet is the candidate who can make this possible.”

Tracey Ramsey, Essex MP, also endorsed Singh.

“Jagmeet is already leading our party in a renewal of our social democratic roots,” said Ramsey. “He has been traveling across our country listening to Canadians, engaging and energizing them and building an amazing grassroots organizing operation.”

According to the NDP website, Singh is featured in Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential People as one of the five youngest rising stars.