time The current federal election The leader of the New Democratic Party, Jagmit Singh, paid tribute to a prominent figure in the party in the past, saying that this may have hindered Canada’s rapid and adequate response to the crisis in Afghanistan.
Singh accused Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau of prioritizing elections he had previously condemned because the needs of Afghans were in chaos after the Taliban seized control of the country last week.
His speech was delivered during his only scheduled campaign, when he commemorated the 10th anniversary of the death of the highly respected former party leader Jack Layton.
If the New Democratic Party wins the election, Singh promises to provide Canadian families with $5,000 in rent support
Singh told supporters in downtown Toronto: “Canada’s response seems to be late…We still have many allies left behind.” “Whether Justin Trudeau spends more time focusing on the election than focusing on it. This humanitarian crisis? I think this is a reasonable question.”
Singh criticized the government’s slow progress in bringing residents who previously supported Canadian diplomatic and military efforts to safe areas outside Afghanistan.
He also claimed that the process of applying for evacuation was complicated and “bureaucratic.”
Afghanistan fell into the hands of the Taliban last weekend, a development that undermined the country’s stability and sowed chaos and uncertainty. These events forced President Ashraf Ghani to flee the country.
Officials said that as of Sunday, three flights had left the country, carrying fleeing Afghans who had worked with Canadian troops in this war-torn country.
Singh said on Sunday: “Initially there were reports that the Taliban might not be so brutal, but it is not the case. We have seen the same brutality.” “We must do everything we can to keep our promises to ensure that the translators who cooperate with our troops The personnel are brought to safety.”
Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan held a press conference with several cabinet colleagues on Sunday morning, saying that Canada will work tirelessly to evacuate people from Afghanistan “under safe conditions.”
At the same time, Singer also promised to introduce a bill in the House of Commons to commemorate the former leader, changing the name of Leyton’s former Toronto-Danforth constituency to Danforth-Lyton.
Singh said: “In Toronto, people know about Jack Layton’s legacy and how he has affected the lives of so many people, and how he worked hard to make people’s lives better.”
Under the leadership of Leiden, the New Democratic Party has made great progress. In the 2011 general election, it won 103 seats in the country and promoted the party to the official opposition status for the first time.
Layton’s orange wave swept Quebec, and the party won 59 seats a few months before his death.
The New Democratic Party lost most of its seats in the 2015 election, and the party was almost excluded from the province in 2019. When the parliament was dissolved last week, there was only one NDP representing the Quebec constituency.
Singer launched his campaign in Montreal and is trying to win back some 2011 voters.
He said on Sunday that he is proud to inherit Layton’s legacy and provide Quebecers and Canadians with a party to stand up for them and their families.
— Documents from Sarah Smelly of St. John’s and Nicole Thompson of Toronto
— This story was produced with financial assistance from Facebook and the Canadian Journalism Scholarship.
© 2021 Canadian Press
