NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh pushed back against recent opinion polls, claiming they consistently underestimate support for his party and will once again be proven wrong.
“Polling does not seem to capture New Democrat support,” Singh told reporters Monday.
“Very recently, just a couple of months ago, we had a winter election in Ontario and it was said New Democrats would lose party status, that the leader would lose their seat. That did not happen.”
Blacklock's Reporter said Singh offered no explanation for why polling might undercount NDP backing but repeated his skepticism when asked directly whether he trusted the numbers.
“Polling doesn’t seem to capture New Democrat support as well as other parties,” he said.
Pre-election surveys ahead of the February 27 Ontario provincial vote had placed the NDP as low as 16%, with results from Léger, Angus Reid, Abacus, and Ipsos ranging between 16% and 20%.
On election night, the party won 18.6% of the vote and secured 27 seats, maintaining its position as Official Opposition in the legislature.
“Many of the major polls, even credible ones, had New Democrats losing party status and we did the opposite,” Singh said. “We actually had Official Opposition.”
When asked whether he would step down if the federal NDP failed to retain party status in the Commons, Singh was direct: “I am not worried about that. I am focused on the election in front of me.”
To qualify as a recognized party in the House of Commons, a minimum of 12 seats is required, granting access to research budgets, committee participation, and guaranteed speaking time during Question Period.
“My focus is we’ve got two weeks left of this election,” Singh said, noting the upcoming televised debates. The French-language debate is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern, with the English debate to follow Thursday at 7 p.m.
Ballots will be cast on Monday, April 28.
The NDP held 24 seats at dissolution, with the strongest representation in British Columbia (12 seats), followed by Ontario (five), Manitoba (three), Alberta (two), and one seat each in Québec and Nunavut. The party’s historic high was 103 seats in 2011, and its lowest showing was nine in 1993.
