NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh pitches government-backed mortgages to B.C. voters, downplays polls

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made various campaign stops throughout Metro Vancouver Sunday afternoon.

The leader of the federal New Democrats made several campaign stops in Metro Vancouver on Sunday as he tried to promote the idea of government-backed mortgages, but kept facing questions about sagging polling numbers.

Flanked by Lower Mainland NDP candidates, Jagmeet Singh announced that he would push for government-backed, low-interest loans for first-time homebuyers to enter the housing market, suggesting it was only fair since government has provided low-interest loans for corporation.

He used the housing crisis as an attack point against his opponents, arguing the federal election campaign is an opportunity for him to “show folks that Conservatives cut and they hurt you, and Mark Carney is not in it for you” since he’d been a career banker and head of an investment firm, so “is not someone that’s going to care about you and your family getting a home you can afford.”

ON THE DEFENSIVE

Singh touted his party’s success in pushing the Liberals to expand Medicare and dental coverage with only 25 members of parliament elected — and suggested that if voters sent him back to Ottawa as prime minister, he could do even more.

The big talk comes as pollsters question whether Singh can hold on to his own riding in south Burnaby.

Overall, the party is polling as low as eight per cent.

“We fought for the biggest expansions of healthcare in a generation....These are concrete things that improve people’s lives,” he said.

“If you elect more New Democrats, we’re going to do great things for you.”