Jagmeet Singh named deputy leader of Ontario New Democrats

Ontario's New Democrats have a new deputy leader.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath announced Monday that she had appointed NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh to serve as her deputy leader.

Singh is serving his second term as an NDP MPP in the riding of BramaleaGoreMalton.

Horwath said he's quickly made his mark at Queen's Park.

"You all know that Jagmeet has been a very dynamic force since he was first elected in 2011 and he is a proven agent of change not only in his community, but in communities across Ontario," Horwath said at a news conference on Monday.

Singh said he was honoured to take on the role of deputy leader.

"I would never have thought that a little kid from Windsor would end up being a deputy leader of a provincial party one day, so it's a great honour," he said.

"I'm blown away and I'm really thankful for the position."

An NDP news release said that Singh's appointment "marks the first time a turbaned Sikh will occupy a Deputy Leader position in Canadian politics."