For the second time in just over two months, the NDP gathered supporters in Burnaby in anticipation of a byelection being called for Burnaby South.
And for the second time they were left seething as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to announce a date for the vote to replace departed MP Kennedy Stewart (now the mayor of Vancouver).
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh addressed supporters at his Burnaby South campaign office in January 2019. Photo by Jennifer Gauthier
鈥淭he people of Burnaby South deserve a voice in Ottawa as they face some of the highest housing costs, skyrocketing medical fees and deep concern for their own future and the future of the environment,鈥� federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said in a statement. 鈥淚t鈥檚 clear Mr. Trudeau isn鈥檛 acting on the best interest of the people of Burnaby but rather he鈥檚 focused on the best interest of his own political party.鈥�
In late October, Trudeau called a byelection for one of four vacant Parliament seats. At the time, New Democrat MP Peter Julian called the decision 鈥渦nprecedented and very petty and manipulative.鈥�
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh stood with supporters at the corner of Royal Oak Avenue and Imperial Street on Sunday. Photo by Jennifer Gauthier
In November, a Liberal source told the NOW that Trudeau would call byelections 鈥渆arly in the new year鈥� for the three other ridings without representation 鈥� Burnaby South, Outremont (in Montreal) and York-Simcoe (in Toronto).
This week, the NDP announced Singh would be rallying volunteers at his Burnaby campaign office on Sunday. 鈥淔ollowing months of delays, media reports suggest the Trudeau government may formally commence to campaign for the by-election in Burnaby South as early as this weekend.鈥�
But once again no announcement came from the Prime Minister鈥檚 office and the NDP was left criticizing the delays rather than officially launching a campaign to get its leader his first seat in the House of Commons.
鈥淗aving an elected representative is a bedrock of our democracy,鈥� Singh said. 鈥淲hen there is already so much disappointment in the Trudeau government for failing to deliver on the progressive platform they were elected on, this pokes them right in the eye.鈥�
The NDP expected the call Sunday because Elections Canada needs 35 days to set up a byelection and the Liberals told media outlets the vote would come this February 鈥� making this the last Sunday (when byelections are typically called) to meet that deadline.
In November, Liberal sources told several outlets the byelection would come in February, but the NOW鈥檚 source would not confirm that timeframe, only saying the vote would come 鈥渆arly in the new year.鈥�
