OTTAWA – A year ago, then-NDP leader Jagmeet Singh delivered a Labour Day message, asserting that his party would advocate for working Canadians and their unions. However, during a federal election six months later, Singh faced a cold reception from auto workers in Windsor, Ontario, as they largely ignored him, favoring the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, instead. This behavior marked a significant indication that the NDP's stronghold on union voters was diminishing.
When the election results were tallied, the outcome was dismal for the NDP, which failed to secure any seats in Ontario, including vital union-dense areas such as Hamilton and Windsor. This development highlighted a fundamental shift in Canada’s political landscape, wherein the NDP can no longer rely on union support.
Senator Hassan Yussuff, the former president of the Canadian Labour Congress, acknowledged the influence of the approximately four million unionized workers in Canada. He emphasized that political parties now recognize the power of organized labor more than ever before. “The labour movement plays an important role in the fabric of the country,” Yussuff stated, underscoring that political parties need to be more responsive to workers' concerns.
Yussuff noted a shift in both Liberal and Conservative policies toward organized labor over the past decade, highlighting a common acknowledgment within the NDP that the party has become disconnected from its foundational roots. Interim NDP Leader Don Davies recognized this necessity for the party to reconnect with workers, reinforcing that the NDP was formed in 1961 to elevate workers' voices within the federal arena.
Despite receiving endorsements from major labor organizations, these were not always mirrored by the workers' voting preferences, leading many union voters in key manufacturing towns to support the Conservatives instead. Yussuff pointed out that the notion of a monolithic labor movement allied solely with the NDP is outdated, as approximately 25 percent of unionized workers have historically voted Conservative.
Amanda Galbraith, a Conservative strategist, highlighted Ontario Premier Doug Ford as an example of a right-leaning politician connecting with working-class voters. She noted that former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole also sought to broaden their appeal. Traditionally seen as the party of "big business," the Conservatives have attempted to soften that image to attract a wider voter base.
On the other hand, Galbraith argued that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not consistently resonated with working-class voters. She attributed this disconnect to his focus on what some perceive as "woke issues," which have pushed the Liberals further left, thereby creating space for the Conservatives to capture disaffected voters.
Steven High, a history professor at Concordia University, observed a broader fundamental shift in the political landscape, influenced by the rise of right-wing populism. He referenced exit polls from recent elections in Canada, the U.S., and Germany, indicating a trend of less-educated voters shifting to the right. High noted that the Conservatives’ success in securing seats in steel and auto-manufacturing towns suggests a significant electoral shift in Canada’s working class, which could have been even more pronounced without the disruptions caused by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff wars.
High pointed out that populist parties on the right perceive a "generational opportunity" and have begun to adjust their messaging while softening their stance against unions. He remarked that the weakening relationship between the NDP and organized labor has led to an increased courting of unions by other political parties.
Former NDP MP Charlie Angus described the election results as a “wake-up call” for both the NDP and organized labor. He acknowledged that the longstanding connection between the party and labor organizations has been strained. Angus noted that party organizers have shifted focus towards data analytics, resulting in a disconnection from traditional union halls and grassroots engagement. He identified the need for the NDP to return to its foundational mission of representing working-class individuals politically, admitting, “We were probably both taking each other for granted.”
