Singh peppered with questions in Vancouver on how NDP stays relevant
New Democratic leader was in B.C. promoting idea of permanent ban on foreign homebuyers
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NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh promoted the idea of a permanent ban on foreign homebuyers on Tuesday, but his visit to Metro Vancouver was overshadowed by questions about his party’s relevance in this federal election.
Reporters peppered Singh with questions about the NDP lagging far behind the Liberals and the Conservatives in the polls during a press conference in east Vancouver.
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Asked if he has any concerns about holding his own seat, Singh replied: “I’m confident that I’ll be able to serve the people of Burnaby Central, and I’m also confident people in this country need New Democrats.”
As Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre draw large crowds to their events, Singh was also asked about not holding a rally in his two days in B.C. and if it was because he felt he couldn’t get people out.
“Not at all. We’re focused on events that showcase our priorities. We do policy announcements. We’re meeting with different communities. We’re looking forward to showing people the choice they have in this election.”
On Tuesday, there was no sign of supporters at the NDP press conference nor at Singh’s midday stop to join a picket line of employees at LifeLabs. They have been on rotating strike for eight weeks over wages and workload.
“I had a good conversation with Jagmeet,” said Mandy De Fields, a bargaining committee chair.
Jenny Kwan, who is seeking re-election for the NDP in Vancouver East, a party stronghold, was asked at the news conference about the disconnect between what she described as “on the ground, it feels really, really good” and the NDP’s low poll numbers.
“I think that the national numbers, sometimes, are not really a reflection of what’s happening in the community. And so there are a lot of nuanced differences that’s happening in individual communities, the relationships that candidates have with their constituents, the advocacy that they have done for them, the ground game,” said Kwan. “Our army of volunteers are getting out there, door knocking, canvassing, phoning, doing all of those jobs and it’s making a difference.”
Singh’s news conference was intended to promote how an NDP government would ban foreign homebuyers permanently to stop speculators from driving up prices and keep homes in the hands of people who live and work in Canada.
“We’re also today talking about how do we keep the homes that are built for Canadians, for families, for people here, instead of for rich investors? So, that’s by making the ban on big money investors from foreign countries that are buying up Canadian homes, and make that ban permanent so people can actually afford them.”
Singh singled out Vancouver real estate marketer Bob Rennie, slamming his comments about allowing “foreign investors to buy presale condo rentals,” according to a NDP press release on Tuesday. It noted Rennie told a real estate panel, which was hosted by Postmedia in March, that he is “working with Carney” on a plan.
But Rennie criticized Singh for not understanding his proposal, which, he said, is to create a pool of rental stock for 25 years, and instead simplifying his comments.
“I wish he would phone me,” said Rennie.
“My idea is if we can create permanent rental stock for 25 years, whether it be from local investment money or foreign investment money, it can be seen as part of the solution to outrageous rental rates and supply. It’s not a blank, ‘let’s have foreign buyers back,’ like Jagmeet Singh is saying to politicize the statement to his own gain. I’m very disappointed.”
NDP press releases on Tuesday also homed in on Mark Wiens, the Vancouver Liberal candidate for Vancouver East, saying he is against a foreign homebuyers ban.
Wiens is a real estate agent and, according to the NDP, he has made comments in the media about marketing “B.C. homes to non-resident investors in China” and “bragged about marketing homes to wealthy foreign buyers to inflate prices.”
Wiens said the comments are from over a decade ago, “made in a very different economic and housing context.”
“I want to be absolutely clear: I have never represented a foreign buyer, and I strongly support measures to make housing more affordable for Canadians — not less.”
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