NDP’s Singh not ‘anxious’ to trigger election despite ending deal: top advisor

Jagmeet Singh‘s top adviser says the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that.

Anne McGrath, Singh’s principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.

“I don’t think he is anxious to launch one, or chomping at the bit to have one, but it can happen,” she said.

In Ottawa this morning, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre challenged Singh to commit to voting non-confidence in the government, saying his party will force a vote in the House of Commons “at the earliest possibly opportunity.”

He’s called the NDP’s decision to pull out of the supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals a “stunt,” unless they help trigger an election.

New Democrat MPs are heading into a second day of meetings in Montreal as they nail down a plan for how to navigate the minority Parliament this fall.

The caucus retreat comes one week after Singh announced the party has left the supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals.

While New Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from the Liberals, they don’t appear ready to trigger an election by voting non-confidence in the government.

Singh has repeatedly said his party will consider each vote independently and will be looking to the government to bring in legislation that will help Canadians.

The NDP have so far dismissed the Conservatives’ attempt to goad them.

Singh signalled on Tuesday that he will have more to say Wednesday about the party’s strategy for the upcoming sitting.

He is hoping to convince Canadians that his party can defeat the federal Conservatives, who have been riding high in the polls over the last year.

With the return of Parliament