Federal New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh will be on hand when the P.E.I. NDP chooses who will lead the party into the next provincial election.
Singh will be attending the P.E.I. NDP’s annual general meeting and leadership convention at Murphy’s Community Centre in Charlottetown on Saturday, April 7.
Leah-Jane Hayward, president of the P.E.I. NDP, said she is delighted Singh will be part of the event.
“His presence will confirm that our pursuit of social justice is a pan-Canadian social democratic endeavour, one that has deep roots in our Island,” said Hayward. “I am hoping as many Islanders as possible will take the chance to meet Jagmeet during his visit.”
Singh will hold two meet-and-greets while in P.E.I.
One will be at the leadership convention from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., while another will be held at Timothy’s World Coffee in Charlottetown from 1:15 p.m. until 2 p.m.
Singh will also give a speech during the convention at 4 p.m.
Joe Byrne, Margaret Andrade and Susan MacVittie are the three candidates vying for the provincial party’s leadership, which has been vacant since former leader Mike Redmond’s resignation in December.
Singh described all three as outstanding candidates.
“What an exciting time to be an Island New Democrat. I am pleased to offer the full support of the federal NDP for the Island NDP in the coming provincial election,” Singh said in a statement.
“P.E.I. is legendary for compassionate, hard-working, caring people who support one another and who know what social justice entails in very practical terms. I want to hear from as many Islanders as possible during my visit.”
The three leadership candidates made their final pitches to Islanders during a debate in Summerside on Thursday.
Byrne, the first to declare his candidacy, has been involved with the P.E.I. party for more than 20 years and is best known to Islanders as Charlottetown’s federal NDP candidate in the previous two elections.
Andrade also ran federally for the NDP during the 2015 election in the Ontario riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. She was previously elected as a municipal councillor in Alberta.
MacVittie previously worked as an outreach organizer and scheduler for Courtenay-Alberni NDP MP Gord Johns. She has since been active with the NDP P.E.I.’s provincial council, as well as in the party’s fundraising and communication committees.
