New Democrats say they see opportunity in Liberals' Toronto byelection loss
CBC
An NDP insider says New Democrats were surprised by the Liberals' loss in the recent Toronto byelection — and now see the governing party's weakness as an opportunity.
Anne McGrath, principal secretary to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in the House of Commons, told CBC News the party thought the outcome of the Toronto St Paul's byelection would be close but not a Conservative upset.
"So it was a bit of a surprise, I think, for everybody," she said, adding that the Liberals' byelection loss in a former party stronghold has intensified the debate within the Liberal Party about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's future.
One sitting Liberal MP has called for Trudeau to step aside. Another has warned that Liberal incumbents could bow out of the next election if Trudeau stays on.
Last last month, Catherine McKenna, who served as environment minister under Trudeau, became the first former member of his cabinet to call for his resignation. Liberal MPs have been calling for an emergency meeting of the full caucus to discuss the byelection result; Liberal caucus chair Brenda Shanahan has rejected those calls.
The internal strife within the Liberal caucus has created a leadership vacuum at a time when Canadians need help, McGrath said.
"Canadians are experiencing this really heightened level of anxiety about the cost of living and how to live," she said. "The Liberal Party seems to be spending a lot of time talking about whether they should have a meeting or not."
McGrath said the NDP will have an opportunity to talk to Canadians over the summer about things like grocery prices and the high cost of shelter.
"It is very fair to say that [the Liberals] are quite distracted right now. I don't think anybody can deny that," she said. "This summer is an opportunity to connect and reconnect with voters to hear what they have to say. And that's what we will be doing."
Singh kicks off his summer tour on Saturday with a town hall in the Liberal riding of Vancouver Granville.
According to several party sources who are not authorized to speak publicly, he's expected to visit and in some cities host town halls in St. John's, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver. The sources said Singh's summer touring plans are not yet set in stone.
The sources point out that many of these cities have ridings previously held by the NDP, or ones where New Democrats have been competitive.
"These regions can be a good indication of where we are seeing potential for growth in the next election," a senior NDP source said.
Party sources say they hope to connect with Canadians who feel they're working harder for less in an economy stacked in favour of big banks, cell companies and grocery chains.
A London, Ont., man., who posted a selfie online showing him with a dying man in a Windsor hospital last year has received two months of jail time. Bubba Pollock is an activist who's protested against drag queens and drag storytimes. He was sentenced in a Windsor courtroom on Friday for his actions against Britt Leroux and the Windsor woman's terminally ill father.