New Democrats say they see opportunity in Liberals' Toronto byelection loss

An NDP insider says New Democrats were surprised by the Liberals' loss in the recent Toronto byelection and now seethe governing party's weakness as an opportunity.

Anne McGrath,principal secretary toNDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in the House of Commons, told CBCNews the party thought the outcome of the Toronto St Paul's byelection would be close but not a Conservative upset.

"So it was a bit of a surprise, I think, for everybody," she said, adding that the Liberals'byelectionloss in a former party stronghold has intensifiedthe debate withinthe Liberal Party about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's future.

One sitting Liberal MPhas called for Trudeau to step aside. Another has warned that Liberal incumbents could bow out of the next election if Trudeau stays on.

Last last month,Catherine McKenna, who served asenvironment minister under Trudeau,became the first former member of hiscabinet to call for his resignation.Liberal MPshave been callingfor an emergency meeting of the full caucus to discuss the byelection result;Liberal caucus chair Brenda Shanahanhas rejected those calls.

• Liberal national caucus chair shuts down request by MPs for summer meeting over byelection loss

The internal strife within the Liberal caucushas created a leadership vacuum at a time when Canadians need help,McGrath said.

"Canadians are experiencing this really heightened level of anxiety about the cost of living and how to live," she said. "The Liberal Party seems to be spending a lot of time talking about whether they should have a meeting or not."

McGrath said the NDP will have an opportunity to talk to Canadians over the summer about things like grocery prices and the high cost of shelter.

"It is very fair to say that [the Liberals]are quite distracted right now. I don't think anybody can deny that," shesaid. "This summer is an opportunity to connect and reconnect with voters to hear what they have to say. And that's what we will be doing."

Singh kicks off his summer tour on Saturdaywith a town hall in the Liberal riding of Vancouver Granville.

According to several party sources who are not authorized to speak publicly, he's expected to visit and in some citieshost town halls in St. John's, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmontonand Vancouver. The sources saidSingh's summer touringplans are not yet set in stone.

The sources point out that many of these cities haveridings previously held by the NDP, or ones where New Democratshave been competitive.

"These regions can be a good indication of where we are seeing potential for growth in the next election," a senior NDP source said.

Party sources saythey hope to connect with Canadians who feel they'reworking harder for less in an economy stacked in favour ofbig banks, cell companiesand grocery chains.

"Things need to change," Singh says in a new social media ad. "Everything is so expensive And it's not your fault. The deck is stacked against you."

Singh also attacks Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in that ad, accusing him of offering more power to corporate Canada.

• New Democrats try out a sharper line of attack as Conservatives target NDP ridings

"He wants to cut the services that you still have left," Singh says in the ad.

NDP MPs and staffers tell CBCNews they feel good after a spring sitting that saw the House of Commons pass billsto restrict the use of replacement workers during a strike, help workers transition to a low-carbon economy,establishapharmacare program and launch subsidizeddental care for seniors, children and peoplewith disabilities.

• The House of Commons has adjourned for the summer what did it accomplish?

The party argues electing the Conservatives would put these gains at risk.

All these items are components of the confidence and supply agreement the party has in place with the governing Liberals. Under that agreement,the NDP caucus supports Liberal budgets and other key pieces of legislation in exchange for the government advancing New Democrats' policy priorities.

The party is going into the next election without at least six of its incumbentMPs: Randall Garrison, Rachel Blaney, Richard Cannings, Charlie Angus, Carol Hughesand Daniel Blaikie.

• Northern Ontario could see some very tight races in next federal election with new riding map

Garrison, Angus andCannings are retiring. Blaney is stepping aside to spend more time with family. Blaikie took a job with Manitoba's NDP Premier Wab Kinew. Hughes' riding is disappearing after changes were made to the electoral map.

McGrath has saidSingh will spend sometime this summer defendingBlaikie's Winnipeg seat in ElmwoodTranscona. The party is also preparing for a yet-to-be-announced byelection in the Montreal riding of LaSallemardVerdun.

The riding was heldby former Liberal cabinet minister David Lametti, who stepped aside. The NDP has what it considers a star candidate in the riding:city councillor Craig Sauv.

The party placed third in the riding in 2021.

The partyalso plans to showcasesome of its newcandidates alongsideSingh during hissummer tour. They includeSt. John's East's Mary Shortall, Halifax Centre's Lisa Roberts, Edmonton Centre's Trisha Estabrooks and Kelvin Kotchileain the Northwest Territories.

Two other high-profile NDP candidates Clare Hackselin Toronto Danforthand Spadina Fort-York's Norm Di Pasquale are expected to attend events with Singh over the summer.

While she said her partysees goodprospects in Toronto after the Liberal byelection loss, McGrath also acknowledged the NDP'sshare of the vote in Toronto-St. Paul'sdroppedby five per cent.

McGrath attributed that weak performance to votersbent on rebuking the Liberals.

"It appears that many people took advantage of the opportunity to send a message to the government. And that often happens in byelections," she said.