The TikTok factor: Jagmeet Singh woos Canada’s youth in 2021 election campaign
- Canada holding snap election on September 20, two years ahead of schedule
- Jagmeet Singh waging election with smaller war chest than bigger parties
As soon as his news conference ends, Jagmeet Singh pulls out his phone, gathers the crowd for an Instagram video and leads them in song, jumping and spinning in place while filming.
A few hours later, he appears dancing to rap music on TikTok, where his videos typically get in excess of one million views.
“People, where are they? They are on social media. I try to use all possible tools to connect with them,” says Singh.
Further to the left on the political spectrum than Trudeau’s Liberals, his party could find itself holding significant sway in the House of Commons if voters return another minority Liberal government to Ottawa.
Currently, the New Democrats are credited with 20 per cent of voting intentions, while Trudeau’s Liberals and the Conservatives, led by rookie leader Erin O’Toole, are neck and neck with less than 35 per cent support each – below the threshold for a majority of seats in parliament.