Where does the NDP go from here in Northern Ontario?
Northern Ontario candidate and a political strategist say poor showing in region doesn't spell death for party
After losing most of its seats and official party status in the federal election, the NDP's future is top of mind for many of its supporters. A candidate and a political strategist in northern Ontario say winning back the region could be key to the party's survival.
The NDP's last seat in the province going into the 2025 federal election was Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk in northeastern Ontario. When the riding turned blue, it marked the party's complete loss of seats in Ontario.
NDP candidates in northern Ontario struggled to take home a significant chunk of the popular vote, often trailing far behind the Conservative and Liberal results. Most garnered less than 10 per cent, with the exception of Tania Cameron in Kenora—Kiiwetinoong, who won a 13.7 per cent share.
Thunder Bay—Rainy River NDP candidate Yuk-Sem Won said that this year's election quickly became a two-party race, and the NDP was a casualty.
"People voted for, I think, what they didn't want instead of being able to vote with their conscience. And I think that that's a sign of how our first-past-the-post process goes," she said.
Despite losing official party status, Won said the NDP members of parliament will still have an important role to play in the next parliament. As a minority government, the Liberals will need to work with the NDP to get things done, Won said.
"I think that the the MPs that are New Democrats are still going to be able to really influence the government and make sure that we hold it accountable for the things that are important to us," she said.
Key issues the NDP will push for include healthcare reform, worker's rights, affordability and housing, Won said.
WATCH | Party spokesperson says NDP will rebuild:
Former NDP staffer Cameron Holmstrom said he was disappointed, but not surprised by the dismal results for the NDP this election.
Holmstrom, who is the principal of Niipaawi Strategies public affairs and government relations firm, said the party didn't do a very good job of pivoting their messaging and policy to voters as their concerns changed.
"At the end of the day, the question was all about Trump and our campaign was not in a good position to answer to it," said Holmstrom, who also describes himself as a pundit and political strategist.
Ties with rural, northern voters key to party rebuilding: strategist
While the NDP has historically enjoyed some success in northern Ontario due to its relationships with northern, rural and working-class voters, Holmstrom said many supporters in the region have felt neglected as the party has shifted more energy toward wooing urban voters.
"One thing the NDP has been very successful at for a long time was holding that balance between having support with downtown urban folks and rural northern folks, working class folks. That was part of the secret sauce for the NDP for decades. And under this leadership that got lost big time," said Holmstrom.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced his resignation in a concession speech on Monday night after finishing third in his own riding. Singh said he will officially step down once an interim leader is chosen.
The next leader of the NDP will need to rebuild these relationships in northern Ontario if they want to see any semblance of success, Holmstrom said.
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