Jagmeet Singh to announce bid for NDP leadership: sources

Jagmeet Singh, the deputy leader of the Ontario NDP, will seek the leadership of the federal New Democrats, CBC News has learned.

Multiple sources close to Singh saidhe will officially announce his candidacy at an event next Monday evening in Brampton, Ont., with thepromise ofa campaign launch unlike any in the NDP leadership race so far.

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Singh, a 38-year-old lawyer whospeaks French and Punjabi,has represented the riding ofBramalea-Gore-Maltonin the provinciallegislature since 2011. He has served as the Ontario NDP's critic for justice and consumer services, and party leader AndreaHorwathnamed him her deputyin 2015.

He will become the fifth official candidate in the race to replace Tom Mulcairas federal NDP leader. MPs Peter Julian of B.C., Charlie Angus from northern Ontario,Guy Caronof Quebec, and Niki Ashtonof Manitoba were the first four entrants.

Someobservers predict Singh will inject some excitement to the race, but warn that he faces significant challenges in winning a national campaign.

"He really has that kind of charisma that people enjoy," saidKathleen Monk, former director of strategic communications for Jack Layton.

"He brings a lot of new blood into the race, he will represent a lot of urban, youth-focused issues," Monk said in an interview with CBC News."I think if I was a Liberal, Iwouldn't want to be running againstJagmeet."

For Singh to succeed, he must prove he has support across the country, Monk said.

As speculation swirled in recent months about whether Singh would seek the leadership, he has been increasing his national profile.

Karl Blanger, the NDP's former national director, agrees that Singh has charisma and finds it interesting that he's choosing to launch his campaign in his riding.

"Having a big launch is important. But if you do it in your own backyard, it doesn't really signal much in terms of growth potential," said Blanger. "Montreal, Vancouver or even downtown Toronto would send a stronger message."

"I think his main weakness is not being known," said PeterGraefe, a political scientist atMcMasterUniversity in Hamilton. "He's known by political watchers in Ontario, butprobablynot by the greater public. He's not that well-known in the otherprovinces."

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"One of his strengths is his populist ability to speak to working-class Canadians in a way that NDP leaders have had a hard time doing," said Graefein an interview.

Singh "will have to address the race issueamong some constituencies," said Monk.

"He represents the views of manyracializedCanadians. I think that's really important.I wouldn't underestimate that value of having him run and what kind of momentum he can build on that," she said. "If elected as leader, he will be the first leader of a major party that is Sikh. Aturban-wearing man is not insignificant for Canada."

Next leadership debate: May 28

Two others, former veteransombudsman PatStogranandMontrealerIbrahimBrunoEl-Khoury, have registered with Elections Canadaas NDP leadership contestants, but their candidacies are not yet considered official by the party. Official candidates must pay a $30,000 fee and submit a list of 500 signatures that meet diversity and regional requirements.

Singh will jointhe race in time to participate in theNDP'sthird leadership debate, on May 28 in Sudbury, Ont.

NDP members will commence voting on Sept. 18, with successive ballots to follow weekly throughout October until one candidate gets 50 per cent of the vote.

Singh's first run for politics was in the 2011 federal election. He came within a few hundred votes of winning Bramalea-Gore-Malton, then five months later won the seat in the provincial election.