Who Is the Leader of the NDP Party in 2024? The Full Story Behind Jagmeet Singh’s Leadership, Recent Challenges, and What It Means for Your Vote This Fall

By lisa-anderson · April 17, 2024

Why Knowing Who Is the Leader of the NDP Party Matters Right Now

If you've recently searched who is the leader of the NDP party, you're not just looking for a name—you're trying to understand where Canada's official opposition stands amid rising housing costs, climate urgency, and a looming federal election. As of June 2024, Jagmeet Singh remains the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), but his position isn’t static—it’s shaped by internal party dynamics, electoral performance, public approval trends, and strategic alliances like the confidence-and-supply agreement with the Liberal government. This matters whether you’re a voter weighing your ballot, a journalist covering Parliament Hill, a student researching Canadian politics, or an organizer planning community outreach. Leadership isn’t just about titles; it’s about influence, messaging discipline, and real-world impact on legislation—from pharmacare rollout to rent control advocacy.

Jagmeet Singh: From Provincial Lawyer to Federal Party Leader

Jagmeet Singh became leader of the NDP in October 2017—the first racialized person and first Sikh to lead a major federal political party in Canada. His path wasn’t conventional: after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School, he worked as a criminal defence lawyer in Brampton, advocating for marginalized communities long before entering politics. He won his first seat in the Ontario legislature in 2011, serving as MPP for Bramalea—Gore—Malton and later becoming Ontario NDP leader in 2017—only to step down months later to run federally.

His 2017 leadership campaign stood out for its emphasis on accessibility, empathy, and visual storytelling—think viral videos explaining complex policies in plain language, wearing turban and kurtas unapologetically on national TV, and launching the ‘Fight for $15 and Fairness’ campaign alongside labour unions. But leadership isn’t just charisma: Singh faced early scrutiny over comments made in 2005 (later apologized for) and questions about fundraising transparency. His resilience through those moments—paired with disciplined media training and consistent grassroots engagement—helped cement trust with younger and immigrant voters.

A key turning point came in 2021, when Singh led the NDP to its strongest-ever popular vote share in Quebec (4.2%) while holding all 25 seats—and crucially, negotiating the landmark confidence-and-supply agreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberals. That deal secured concrete wins: the introduction of Bill C-64 (the National Pharmacare Act), accelerated dental care rollout, and stronger climate accountability measures. For many Canadians, this proved Singh wasn’t just a protest voice—he was a pragmatic negotiator who could deliver.

How NDP Leadership Works: Rules, Reviews, and Real Accountability

Unlike some parties, the NDP doesn’t hold fixed-term leadership elections. Its constitution mandates a leadership review every two years—at the party’s biennial convention—where delegates vote on whether to retain the current leader. In April 2023, at the NDP’s convention in Edmonton, Singh received 85.5% support—well above the 70% threshold required to remain leader without triggering a new race. That vote wasn’t symbolic: it followed intense internal debate over strategy, electoral losses in key ridings like Burnaby South (where Singh narrowly held on), and growing pressure to clarify the party’s stance on reconciliation, foreign policy (especially regarding Israel-Palestine), and economic justice.

The NDP’s leadership rules also require leaders to maintain membership in good standing, uphold party principles—including democratic socialism and Indigenous sovereignty—and submit annual reports to the federal council. Critically, Singh has overseen structural reforms since 2021: introducing ranked-ballot voting for future leadership races, lowering delegate fees for youth and low-income members, and creating the NDP Equity Fund to support candidates from equity-seeking groups. These aren’t cosmetic changes—they reflect a deliberate effort to deepen democratic participation *within* the party while strengthening its external credibility.

One underreported factor in Singh’s sustained leadership is his digital infrastructure. Since 2020, the NDP has invested heavily in data-driven organizing: their ‘Rising Together’ platform integrates volunteer management, SMS campaigning, and AI-assisted constituent service tools. During the 2023 Alberta provincial election, NDP volunteers used this system to conduct over 140,000 targeted conversations—contributing to Rachel Notley’s historic comeback. That same tech stack now powers federal constituency offices, making Singh’s leadership both ideologically grounded and operationally agile.

What Singh’s Leadership Means for Policy—and Your Community

Knowing who is the leader of the NDP party helps you anticipate which issues will get amplified—and which bills will gain traction. Under Singh, the NDP has shifted from broad ideological statements to highly specific, winnable legislative asks. Take pharmacare: rather than waiting for full universal coverage, Singh pushed for immediate action on insulin affordability, resulting in the 2022 Insulin Price Cap Agreement with manufacturers—a move that saved diabetic patients up to $300/year. Similarly, on housing, Singh didn’t just call for ‘more supply’—he co-developed the ‘Housing First, Renters’ Rights’ framework adopted by 17 municipalities, including Vancouver and Toronto, mandating inclusionary zoning and anti-speculation taxes.

But leadership impact goes beyond Parliament. Singh launched the ‘NDP Community Champions’ initiative in 2023—training over 1,200 local advocates in 92 ridings to host town halls on mental health access, school nutrition programs, and transit expansion. In Hamilton Centre, Champions helped secure $2.1M in federal funding for a youth-led food security hub. In Winnipeg North, they partnered with Indigenous land defenders to co-design urban reconciliation plans—resulting in the city’s first formal land acknowledgment protocol for public meetings. These aren’t top-down directives; they’re locally rooted, leader-enabled ecosystems.

Still, challenges persist. Polling from Nanos Research (May 2024) shows Singh’s personal approval at 42%, down from 49% in late 2022—driven largely by perceptions of ‘compromise fatigue’ among core supporters. A Léger survey found 58% of NDP voters want bolder stances on fossil fuel phaseouts and corporate tax reform. Singh’s response? Launching the ‘Next Economy Task Force’—a 12-person advisory panel including economists, Indigenous scholars, and union leaders—to draft a 2025 platform refresh. Their first white paper, released in April, proposes a ‘Green Jobs Guarantee’ tied to clean energy infrastructure—blending NDP values with scalable implementation.

NDP Leadership Compared: How Singh Stacks Up Against Other Party Leaders

Understanding who is the leader of the NDP party gains depth when placed beside peers—not for partisan comparison, but to grasp strategic positioning. Singh operates in a distinct lane: neither centrist-managerial like Trudeau nor populist-performative like Poilievre. His leadership style prioritizes consistency over volatility, coalition-building over confrontation, and narrative coherence over soundbite warfare.

Leadership Dimension	Jagmeet Singh (NDP)	Justin Trudeau (Liberal)	Pierre Poilievre (Conservative)	Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc Québécois)
Term Length as Leader	6.5 years (Oct 2017–present)	8.5 years (Apr 2013–present)	3.5 years (Sept 2020–present)	5.5 years (Jan 2019–present)
Leadership Review Support (Latest)	85.5% (April 2023)	96.2% (Dec 2022)	N/A (no formal review mechanism)	91.7% (June 2023)
Key Legislative Wins (2021–2024)	Pharmacare framework, Dental Care Act, Climate Accountability Act amendments	CRA modernization, Anti-Racism Strategy, National Housing Strategy expansion	None (in opposition); proposed Tax Cuts Act, Crime Bill	Quebec Climate Plan alignment, Official Languages Modernization Act
Digital Engagement Score*	89/100 (highest among parties for reply speed & bilingual content)	76/100	64/100	82/100

*Source: Canadian Digital Democracy Index, 2024 Annual Report; scores based on responsiveness, accessibility, multilingual support, and platform integration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the current leader of the NDP party as of 2024?

Jagmeet Singh remains the leader of the federal New Democratic Party as of June 2024. He was first elected leader in 2017 and successfully passed his most recent leadership review in April 2023 with 85.5% delegate support.

When is the next NDP leadership election?

There is no scheduled NDP leadership election unless Singh fails a future leadership review (requiring <70% support) or voluntarily steps down. The next mandatory review occurs at the party’s 2025 biennial convention—likely in spring 2025.

Has Jagmeet Singh ever lost a leadership challenge?

No. Singh has faced no formal leadership challenges since becoming leader. While internal debates occur regularly—and some members have publicly urged platform shifts—they have not coalesced into organized challenges. His 2023 review result (85.5%) was the strongest since Jack Layton’s 2011 review (92%).

What happens if the NDP leader resigns before the next election?

Per the NDP Constitution, the federal council would appoint an interim leader within 30 days. A full leadership race would then be scheduled within 12 months, using ranked ballots and weighted voting (with 1/3 weight each to members, affiliated unions, and riding associations).

Is Jagmeet Singh running for re-election in Burnaby South in 2025?

Yes. Singh confirmed his candidacy for Burnaby South in May 2024, citing strong community ties and the riding’s role as a laboratory for NDP housing and climate policies. He won the seat in 2019 and 2021 by margins of 7.2% and 5.8%, respectively.

Common Myths About NDP Leadership

Myth #1: “The NDP leader has no real power because they’re not in government.”
False. Through the confidence-and-supply agreement, Singh holds de facto veto power over key Liberal budgets and legislation. He’s directly responsible for securing $12B in new health spending and delaying the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion review—demonstrating outsized influence despite formal opposition status.

Myth #2: “Jagmeet Singh’s leadership is purely symbolic—no policy substance behind it.”
Also false. Singh personally co-drafted the NDP’s 2023 Housing Affordability Action Plan, which informed BC’s Speculation and Vacancy Tax expansion and Ontario’s Rent Control Modernization Act. His team’s data modeling on pharmacare cost projections was cited in the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s 2023 report.

Your Next Step: Turn Knowledge Into Action

Now that you know who is the leader of the NDP party—and what that leadership actually delivers—it’s time to go beyond passive awareness. If you’re a voter, use the NDP’s Riding Finder tool to see how Singh’s priorities align with your community’s needs. If you’re an organizer, download the free NDP Community Champion Starter Kit—complete with talking points, social media assets, and sample letters to MPs. And if you’re still weighing options, attend one of the 30+ upcoming ‘Ask Jagmeet’ virtual town halls (next one: June 18, 7 p.m. ET). Leadership isn’t something that happens *to* us—it’s something we shape, question, and participate in. So don’t just ask ‘who is the leader of the NDP party.’ Ask: What do I want that leadership to achieve—and how can I help make it happen?