Jagmeet Singh Resigns as NDP Leader After Devastating Election Loss in B.C.

Jagmeet Singh Steps Down As NDP Leader After Defeat in Burnaby Central

Few people saw such a dramatic collapse coming for the NDP. Jagmeet Singh, once hailed as a fresh face in Canadian politics, has resigned as party leader after losing his own seat in the Burnaby Central riding during the 2025 federal election. Not only did Singh drop to third place—a shocking result in a district he won comfortably six years prior—but the party itself now faces political obscurity.

In a tearful concession speech on April 29, Singh thanked his wife Gurkiran Kaur and their daughters, Anhad and Dani, for standing by him during his tumultuous leadership. He made it clear he’ll keep his seat warm until the New Democrats choose an interim leader, but there was no hiding the disappointment. The NDP’s share in the House plummeted from 25 seats all the way down to 7—a nosedive that means they’ve lost official party status in Parliament, along with the crucial funding and question period rights that status unlocks.

For Singh, it’s the end of a remarkable but bumpy political road. He made history in 2017 as the first member of a visible minority to lead a major Canadian party. Singh helped Justin Trudeau’s Liberals keep power through a supply-and-confidence deal after the 2019 and 2021 elections. However, as cracks showed in support late last year and he pulled party backing from Trudeau in September 2024, opinions among voters started to shift dramatically.

NDP Support Crumbles Across The Country

The election numbers spell out the disaster. Even before the night was over, analysts pointed out that dropping to single digits basically erases the NDP from the major-player list in Ottawa. Losing official party status—Canada’s definition is 12 seats or higher—means stripped-down budgets, less staff, and way less spotlight in Ottawa. Many of the party’s core organizers are bracing for layoffs and a tough rebuilding period.

Locally in Burnaby Central, disappointment was obvious among long-time NDP volunteers. Singh's personal popularity wasn’t enough to overcome a wave of strategic Liberal voting and a late surge in Conservative support. The former NDP base simply wasn’t motivated or was split by dissatisfaction with the party’s national platform on key hot-button topics.

Singh’s approach to international issues, especially his anti-India messaging and positions on the Khalistan movement, became a lightning rod. Community leaders in British Columbia spoke publicly ahead of the vote, warning that the party’s stance alienated many Indo-Canadian voters who once formed the NDP’s backbone in critical ridings. After the results, a few party insiders admitted Singh’s messaging “backfired badly,” allowing rivals to peel away crucial votes.

Meanwhile, the big winner of the night was Justin Trudeau’s Liberals. They retook the majority they lost in 2019, capitalizing on the chaos and infighting among the left. Singh’s fall from grace, and the drop from kingmaker to outsider, reshuffles Canadian politics in a big way.

As speculation swirls about who might take over for the battered New Democrats, many are left wondering if the party can recover from this drubbing—or whether another wave of political realignment is just beginning in Ottawa.