As the federal NDP campaign concentrated on Conservative-held seats in the prairie provinces, Jagmeet Singh questioned Saskatchewan and Alberta’s provincial governments’ COVID-19 pandemic responses.
People in the prairies are being hit especially hard by the fourth wave of the epidemic, according to Singh, since their governments have failed them.
“The conservative premiers should be angry,” Singh remarked on Saturday. “They performed a terrible job, putting people’s lives at jeopardy.”
During a stop in Saskatoon, Singh took aim at Justin Trudeau, alleging the Liberal leader abandoned the provinces in the fourth wave of the election.
Trudeau is to blame for calling an election and not finding solutions to the pandemic such as paid sick leave for workers, he said.
“Mr. Trudeau chose a selfish election.”
Singh has kept his sights on the Liberals throughout the campaign, arguing the New Democrats are a viable alternative and discouraging people from strategic voting. Despite running a campaign that outwardly prides itself on positivity, the New Democrats have been very negative about Trudeau.
Singh said Canadians have to make a choice, and that means pointing out mistakes and bad decisions of other leadership.
The New Democrats’ popularity level hasn’t moved much in the last week of the campaign, with the party lagging behind both the Liberals and Conservatives in opinion polls.
Singh did not answer repeated questions about whether he’d support the Liberals if Monday’s election results in a minority government led by Trudeau. He also refused to clarify whether he believes the party with the most seats should be given first priority in administration.
Singh, according to the NDP, is ready to increase the party’s seat count in the House of Commons in order to fight for what Canadians need.
Before heading to British Columbia, he planned to visit ridings in Regina and Edmonton.
Source_ The Canadian Press
