NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh convenes caucus in Montreal to plot post-deal path forward

Just days after demolishing his deal with Justin Trudeau's Liberals, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is holding a three-day strategy session with his MPs in Montreal.

Just days after demolishing his deal with Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is holding a three-day strategy session with his MPs in Montreal.

Singh has brought his caucus of 23 MPs to the prime minister’s hometown, to prepare for the fall sitting of Parliament, and make a final push to claim a Liberal seat in a local byelection.

Between Tuesday and Thursday, the federal New Democrats will convene largely behind closed doors to plot the party’s political strategy for the months ahead.

Singh’s decision to pull his party out of the supply-and-confidence deal last week — giving the minority Liberals minimal advance notice in the process — has significantly altered the political landscape.

The Conservatives are already hot on the NDP’s heels about bringing down the government, while the Bloc Québécois have signalled an intent to capitalize on holding the balance of power when confidence votes come up. 

At 12:30 p.m. ET, Singh is holding a press conference where he is expected to discuss the objectives of the caucus "planning session" and speak more about the NDP’s priorities.

There will be two focuses of this week’s caucus retreat, according to a senior NDP source speaking on background. The first is the gains they want to make in the House of Commons and how they plan to handle votes now on a case-by-case basis.