Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is returning to Timmins for campaign events on Saturday and Sunday. Party officials did not immediately disclose the location of Saturday evening’s gathering; however, the party leader is expected to hold a press conference at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Singh’s official itinerary shows he also plans to attend Northern College’s Annual Traditional Powwow and take part in local Vaisakhi celebrations on April 13.
The stop in Timmins is part of Singh’s ongoing outreach in northern Ontario, which he has frequently visited during his time as party leader to discuss issues such as housing affordability, cost-of-living pressures, and health care. His last tour of the region in July included meetings with residents and local officials in Timmins, Cochrane, and Kirkland Lake.
During his summer trip, Singh emphasized the need for targeted federal support for northern and small communities, particularly in areas such as housing and infrastructure.
“We’ve got to build homes that people can actually afford,” he said at the time, criticizing unchecked developer influence. He also pledged action on the opioid crisis, vowing to “get toxic drugs out of our communities.”
Kirkland Lake Mayor Stacy Wight, who met with Singh in July, highlighted the challenges smaller municipalities face in securing funding. “There needs to be specific streams for infrastructure and housing directed to small and northern communities,” she said.
Saturday’s event, which will be open to media, begins at 7:30 p.m. It comes as the NDP prepares for the 2025 federal election, with longtime northern Ontario MPs Charlie Angus and Carol Hughes not seeking re-election amid the changes to riding boarders.
Singh often uses his northern visits to draw attention to local concerns – including the country’s high cost-of-living.
“Everything is so expensive here,” said one Kirkland Lake resident during his last visit.
“We need (action) to live happily.”
With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca journalists Lydia Chubak and Darren MacDonald
