NDP leader makes Welland stop

‘Better is possible, but you’ve got to vote for it,’ Singh tells voters

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made a brief campaign stop in Welland Wednesday afternoon, encouraging Niagara to “get out and vote.”

With only a few days remaining in the federal election campaign, Singh met with supporters outside the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1263 hall, urging them to make a plan and get to the ballot box on election day.

“Better is possible, but you’ve got to vote for it,” he said.

In a brief speech, Singh touched on a number of NDP talking points, including affordable housing, health-care investments and delivering “justice for the First People of this land.”

Singh criticized Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau for what Singh said was a failure to deliver on pharmacare and a failure “to bring down the price of cellphone and internet services.”

“These are promises that people get hope (from). They want to see change, they want to see life get better, and instead of getting better it’s getting worse.”

The campaign stop in Niagara was the second by a federal party leader this election cycle, following Trudeau’s visit to Welland on Labour Day.

Singh was flanked by the four local NDP candidates: Niagara Centre’s Melissa McGlashan, Niagara West’s Nameer Rahman, St. Catharines riding’s Trecia McLennon and Niagara Falls riding’s Brian Barker.

McGlashan introduced Singh to the crowd, telling The Standard she was excited to welcome him to Niagara Centre and saw it as an “indication of how successfully the campaign is going.”

“We’ve been able to get his word and the party’s word and their position on a number of issues and the platform out to the community.”

McGlashan said the NDP affordability platform appeals to younger Canadians who are trying to start a life but are finding the “systems that have been there in the past aren’t there for them.”

Brock University student Sophie Reynolds said she has historically been a Liberal voter, but is “unhappy” with a lack of follow-through and will now vote NDP.

“Jagmeet is more grounded, he’s from a smaller party, he’s more down to earth. He

understands the needs of the people,” said Reynolds.

And more than what the federal party has to offer, the second-year student said she is “excited” to vote for St. Catharines candidate McLennon.

“She’s such an awesome role model. She’s involved in the Brock University community … and she’s just amazing. I love her as a candidate,” said Reynolds.

St. Catharines voter Gabriel Gebril said he didn’t have any expectations for the Singh rally. He came to hear what the NDP leader had to say in person.

“I know what my thoughts on it intellectually are, but on the ground you get an emotional perspective,” he said.

Gebril said in previous years he was “apolitical,” but the NDP platform — specifically taxing the rich — is the “biggest catalyst” for him to vote in this election.

“The billionaires are making a lot of money, they should share it with … the rest of the people. They should pay their taxes,” said Gebril.

Singh did not take questions from reporters.

Singh spent the day travelling through southwestern Ontario, making campaign stops at Essex, London, Hamilton and Brampton.

Earlier at a campaign stop in Windsor, Singh promised to take profit out of long-term care.

He also addressed the resignation of two NDP candidates over anti-Semitic social media posts, calling their resignation the “right decision.”

“Those messages were completely unacceptable,” said Singh, stating his party is unequivocally opposed to antiSemitism.

“I want folks to know that our values are values of inclusivity.”