NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh begins to lay out minority scenario priorities

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has started to lay down some of the conditions his party would want to see met in exchange for supporting another party in a minority Parliament scenario.

In the shadow of Parliament Hill this morning, Singh reminded Canadians he's campaigning to be prime minister as he highlighted his policy priorities for the next federal government.

"For any government that is formed, whatever Canadians choose, these are the six things that we're going to ask them to take very seriously. These are the six things that we're going to sit down and say, 'We need action on these six things, otherwise we're not going to be able to move ahead," he said.

"These are our terms of what we're going to fight for."

According to CBC's Poll Tracker, the Liberals and Conservatives are neck-and-neck nationwide, with the most likely outcome at this point being a minority government.

'What we're going to fight for'

5 years ago

Duration 1:12

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh laid down six priorities he said he wants to see met in exchange for working with another party in the next Parliament. He spoke to reporters in Ottawa Thursday ahead of the French-language debate.

Singh ruled out working with the Conservatives in response to comments Leader Andrew Scheer made against same-sex marriage during a debate in the House of Commons nearly 15 years ago — so his party's list of conditions is directed at Justin Trudeau's Liberals.

Singh said that, while today's announcement isn't about a formal coalition, any such negotiation with another party would have to cover his six "urgent priorities":

• A national, single-payer universal pharmacare plan and a national dental care plan.
• Investments in housing.
• A plan to waive interest on student loans.
• A commitment to reduce emissions, to end subsidies for oil companies and to deliver aid to oilpatch workers to transition them out of fossil fuel industries.
• The introduction of a "super wealth" tax and a commitment to closing tax loopholes.
• Reducing cellphone bills.

He also said his party will continue to push for reconciliation and proportional representation.

Singh still urged Canadians to vote as many New Democrats into the House of Commons as possible on Oct. 21.

"I want you to vote for hope. I want you to vote because you believe in something. I want you to vote for something, not vote against something. Vote for something you believe in," he said.

"I want you to know you do not have to settle."