NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh on Sunday launched the party’s 2025 campaign with a clear message to Canadians: this election is about who will protect you, and the things you care about most, from being sold out.

“People will say this election is about who can face off against Donald Trump,” said Singh. “But let’s be clear — the real question is who will fight for you, and make sure it’s not your job, your health care, or your future on the chopping block.”

With Trump’s trade war already hurting workers and driving up prices, Singh warned that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney can’t be trusted to stand up for Canadians. Poilievre is promising deep cuts to services and tax giveaways for the rich, while Carney has spent his career helping billionaires profit off housing and affordability crises — leaving working people to pay the price, he added.

“We will never be Trump’s 51st state,” Singh said. “Not in name, not in values, and not on my watch.”

Singh framed the election as a choice between parties who will protect billionaires and big business —or a bold NDP vision to protect what matters most to people and build a fairer future.

“We’re not here to patch up a broken system for the next storm,” he said. “We’re here to rebuild it—stronger, safer, and fairer. That’s what this election is about. That’s what’s at stake.”

With record fundraising, a surge in candidate nominations, and strong support in key ridings, New Democrats say they are heading into their most energized and competitive campaign in over a decade.

“You are worth fighting for—and I’m in it for you,” Singh told supporters.

“We are ready for this election,” NDP Campaign Director Jennifer Howard said on Saturday. “We’ve got more candidates nominated than the Liberals do and more than we had when the writ dropped in 2021. We’ve had an incredible few months of fundraising and our candidates are stellar – we’ve got a slate of incumbents and experienced leaders who will fight for working and middle-class Canadians, not the ultrarich and powerful.”

NDP fundraising numbers were up 70 per cent in January and 131 per cent in February compared to the same time last year. Just this week, the party saw its highest single day fundraising total since Q4. Local candidates are also smashing expectations – NDP candidate for Taiaiako’n—Parkdale—High Park Bhutila Karpoche raised $80,000 in just one night.

This is the first time in a decade the NDP will spend the maximum allowed under Elections Canada’s limits.