The NDP has launched a campaign ad in preparation for a possible snap spring election depicting leader Jagmeet Singh as a boxer who is ready to “fight” for Canadians.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the video campaign cost $500,000 — a significant expense for the party that trails other national rivals in fundraising.
“I wasn’t raised to be a politician and never dreamed of becoming one,” Singh says in narrating the advertisement.
“I worked for minimum wage to take care of my family when my dad was sick, and made it out of law school to see the system only works for those at the top.”
“So I got in the ring to take on the powerful and fight for you.”
“It’s time for someone in your corner especially when times are tough. I won’t back down. I won’t stop fighting for you.”
Singh officially qualifies for his pension as of Monday, having served six years as an MP.
The NDP in 2023, the last full reporting period, raised $6.8 million in cash contributions. The donations compared to $15 million for the Liberal Party and $35.2 million for Conservatives, according to Elections Canada filings.
New Democrats reported 28,822 donors in the last reporting period compared to 52,268 Liberal donors and 127,079 Conservative donors. Federal law currently caps individual campaign contributions at $1,750. Cash donations by corporations or unions are forbidden.
Singh has said he expects a snap election shortly after a March 9 vote by Liberals for a new party leader to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“We are operating under the clear indication by Mark Carney that there is going to be snap election held early,” Singh told reporters February 14.
“He is going to call that mid-March.”
“Now it has become clear Mark Carney is going to call a snap election.”
“He is going to call an election before Parliament resumes at the end of March. We are preparing for that.”
The minimum campaign period under the Elections Act is 37 days. Federal voters have seen only one April election since Confederation, in 1963.
The New Democrat leader has boasted of wide experience as an amateur athlete. Singh in a 2017 interview with GQ Magazine said he studied martial arts as a schoolboy.
“I love it,” said Singh.
“I have been training in one form or another ever since.”
“I started off with Taekwondo and some Akido. I did a lot of wrestling in high school. Later on I did traditional boxing and Muay Thai. I did a lot of striking but my specialty was grappling. Fighting around wrestling, Jiu Jitsu and Judo was my main focus.”
