By any political measure, Jagmeet Singh’s defeat in the 2025 federal election is nothing short of historic. Once hailed as a “kingmaker” who held the balance of power in Parliament, Singh now exits the stage not only stripped of his seat in Burnaby Central, but as the captain of a capsized ship—the New Democratic Party reduced to a mere seven seats, far below the threshold for official party status. But beyond the numbers lies a deeper truth: Canadians have forcefully rejected the dangerous flirtation with extremist ideology that Singh came to represent.
Central to Singh’s downfall is his long-standing association with the Khalistan movement, a Sikh separatist campaign aimed at carving out an independent state from India. Over the years, Singh’s track record has included attending events where pro-Khalistan imagery and slogans were front and center, supporting the banning of Indian nationalist organizations like the RSS, and championing the expulsion of Indian diplomats after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar—a known Khalistani figure. In doing so, Singh positioned himself not as a national leader but as a partisan voice for a divisive foreign agenda.
NDP Leader and Khalistan sympathiser Jagmeet Singh loses his own seat, and will soon be stepping down as the party leader in Canada. https://t.co/DAPjoLLguL
— Khalsa Vox (@khalsavox) April 29, 2025
This did not go unnoticed by the Canadian public. A recent national survey revealed that while only 10% of Canadians support Sikh separatist activities, a resounding 72% favor stricter policies to prevent foreign extremist movements from organizing within Canada. A full 54% outright oppose Khalistani activism. These are not marginal numbers—they reflect a clear, national consensus. Canadians are willing to embrace diversity, but not at the expense of national unity or through the platforming of extremist ideologies.
The election was, in every sense, a referendum on Singh’s politics. The NDP’s dramatic fall from 24 seats to seven—and from 18% to 6% of the vote—cannot be chalked up to campaign missteps or partisan shifts alone. It was a direct response to a perceived betrayal of Canadian values. The message from voters was unambiguous: there is no room in Canada’s political mainstream for those who traffic in the rhetoric of foreign separatism.
Jagmeet Singh’s defeat also marks a turning point for the Khalistani cause in Canada. For years, Khalistan sympathizers have tried to embed their movement within Canada’s multicultural fabric, using the language of rights and identity to mask a deeply sectarian agenda. Singh’s rise gave that movement an air of legitimacy. His fall strips it away.
Jagmeet Singh announces that he will be stepping down as NDP leader. pic.twitter.com/c3PvzDQcyu
— Jarryd Jäger (@JarrydJaeger) April 29, 2025
This electoral rout also clears the path for a reset in Canada-India relations, which have been strained in recent years by diplomatic tensions and political posturing. With Singh—the most vocal critic of India on the Canadian political stage—now gone, Prime Minister Mark Carney has a chance to pursue a more balanced and constructive approach. That can only benefit Canada, both diplomatically and domestically.
Ultimately, the 2025 election should be remembered as a decisive moment in Canadian democracy. It was a line in the sand—a declaration that while Canada remains a nation of inclusion, it will not be a staging ground for foreign nationalist or extremist campaigns. Singh’s loss is more than a political misstep. It is a symbolic defeat for an ideology that Canadians have overwhelmingly rejected.
Canada has spoken. Extremism—no matter how it’s cloaked—has no place in our Parliament.
