Jagmeet Singh calls for Trump to be uninvited from G7 summit in Alberta

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is the first Canadian political leader to call for the U.S. president to be uninvited from a major summit of world leaders this summer in Canada.

"Why would we invite someone who threatens our sovereignty and economic well-being? Why would we invite someone who threatens the economic well-being of allies and threatens the world's stability? Why would we allow a convicted criminal into our country?" Singh said in a statement.

Singh is in Quebec on Wednesday, making a foreign policy pitch at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations, which included continuing to back Ukraine and recognizing Palestinian statehood.

The G7 is comprised of seven of the world's wealthiest countries and the European Union.

Each year, the G7 presidency rotates between countries, culminating in a leaders' summit. Canada will host its summit in Kananaskis, Alta., from June 15 to 17.

CBC News asked the Prime Minister's Office for a response to Singh's comments.

"We will not be commenting on this matter," said Simon Lafortune, a press secretary for the prime minister.

Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Singh's proposal made "very little sense" and he called on Singh find new advisers who could provide him with more thoughtful positions. 

"President Trump obviously has said a number of things that have offended Canadians," Wilkinson said. "I have been very offended and I have been quite angry about some of the things that he has said.

"We need to find pathways to work with the Americans. We are not going to sort of cut ourselves off and float into the ocean. They are going to be our neighbours going forward."

Along with uninviting Trump, Singh is calling for the meeting to be refocused on building a common front against Trump.

"Canada's turn as host of the G7 should be a summit on how the world can work together to resist Donald Trump," Singh said.

Outside the G7, the NDP leader committed to forging "stronger diplomatic and economic alliances with like-minded allies," with Mexico, New Zealand and Australia "to face Donald Trump."

The NDP leader also called Trump a "fascist," harkening back to a previous comment from Singh's predecessor, Tom Mulcair.

"What do you call a guy who threatens his allies including with the use of military force, spreads disinformation, proclaims he is above the law and fires anyone who won't do what he says — even those in law enforcement and the military? A fascist," Singh said.

Singh is not the only one in his party calling for the country to roll up the welcome mat.

NDP MP Charlie Angus has sponsored a petition from Albertan Gerard Aldridge, which has more than 23,000 signatures. The petition calls on the Canadian government to refuse Trump entry to Canada because of his criminal conviction and actions in office.

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Petition to revoke Musk's citizenship allowing Canadians to 'express their anger,' says NDP MP

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NDP MP Charlie Angus says the petition he's sponsoring to Parliament to strip Elon Musk of his Canadian citizenship is about 'sending a message' to Musk and the U.S. government. Legal experts say someone's citizenship can only be revoked if it can be proven that they committed fraud or misrepresentation to obtain it.

Angus has also sponsored a petition to strip Trump ally and Canadian citizen Elon Musk of his citizenship.

Singh's foreign policy vision shared at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations included other commitments an NDP government would fulfil, including boosting foreign aid.

"Unlike Pierre Poilievre who promises to cut foreign aid, I will increase Canadian foreign aid to achieve the goals that the Liberals have abandoned," Singh said.

The NDP would also establish what it calls a "quick response force" that would be ready to deploy on United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Singh's speech reiterated the NDP's support for better equipping the Canadian Armed Forces with "advanced tools" and replacing "outdated equipment."

He also called for investments in "new marine and rescue stations" and strengthening the Canadian Rangers.

But Singh's speech stopped short of committing to the two per cent of gross domestic product NATO spending target.

Canada is among eight NATO allies out of 30 that are estimated to be falling short of the target and has faced persistent criticism from allies. According to a NATO report from last year, Canada was estimated to spend roughly 1.37 per cent of GDP in 2024.

In January, Canada's defence minister committed to hit the spending target by 2027.