Ottawa New Democrats are coming to terms with what looks like the collapse of NDP support across the capital.
Not only did
Liberals defend key seats, but they also seemingly took a huge chunk of what used to be NDP voters.
In Ottawa Centre, Liberal candidate Yasir Naqvi secured a commanding win with 62.4 per cent of the vote, according to Elections Canada numbers, a 17 percentage point increase from the 2021 election.
NDP candidate Joel Harden came in second with less than 20 per cent of the vote count, a substantial decrease from the previous federal election — and still the only riding in the capital where the NDP outperformed the Conservatives.
Harden expressed his sadness at losing to Naqvi.
“I’m obviously disappointed with the result,” he told the Citizen at his election night campaign party held at a downtown Eggspectations restaurant.
Despite the national downturn for the NDP, Harden’s election night gathering was much of an energetic slumber party.
“Everyone in this room worked their tails off on this campaign. It made me fall in love with Ottawa Centre again,” he said.
After six months of campaigning, Harden said he was looking forward to rest, but made it clear the NDP would be watching the incoming Carney government closely.
He said it was important for the party to ensure the Liberals “live up” to the promises made during their campaign.
“If they don’t, the New Democrats in this community are going to be there to call them to account in a constructive way,” Harden said.
Harden gave up his provincial seat to run federally. When asked whether he regretted that decision, he was straightforward in his reply.
“Life is all about taking risks, and I took a risk because I felt our federal politics needed help,” Harden said, pointing to what he believes is a “toxic” political environment, especially in question period.
“I felt an obligation to do whatever I could to get people excited about politics again.”
Outside Ottawa Centre, the picture for the NDP was also gloomy. Riding after riding, Elections Canada numbers show NDP votes swallowed up by Liberals — and even Conservatives.
In Carleton, the riding formerly held by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, the NDP finished with just 1.4 per cent of the vote. The race was dominated by Liberal Bruce Fanjoy and Poilievre, leaving little room for NDP candidate Beth Prokaska to make an impact.
Though that was the worst showing for the NDP this election in Ottawa, the rest wasn’t much better.
Here is a percentage breakdown of Ottawa’s NDP results, in descending order:
- Ottawa Centre (Joel Harden) — 19.7 per cent
- Ottawa-Vanier Glouster (Tristan Oliff) — 7.5 per cent
- Ottawa West-Nepean: Josh Bizjak — 7.1 per cent
- Ottawa South (Hena Masjedee) — 6.1 per cent
- Orleans (Oulai B. Goué) — 2.9 per cent
- Kanata: Melissa Simon — 2.3 per cent
- Nepean: Shyam Shukla — 2.0 per cent
- Carleton: Beth Prokaska — 1.4 per cent
Outside Ottawa Centre, no NDP candidate
broke eight per cent of the vote count.
Meanwhile, the NDP significantly underperformed in Orleans, Kanata, Nepean and Carleton, garnering less than three per cent of voters supporting the party in each of these ridings.
Glenn MacDonell, a volunteer for Ottawa South NDP candidate Hena Masjedee, said he thought voters strategically shifted their support to the Liberals in order to stop Conservatives from winning.
MacDonell, who attended Harden’s watch party, said the NDP’s campaign strategy at the local level was different during this election.
This election, the NDP focused less on persuading Liberal or Conservative supporters to vote progressive, but rather identifying likely NDP voters and ensuring they turned out on election day.
“You’re not trying to change their mind,” he said. “If you have a whole lot of people who support you, but they don’t bother voting, then you’re in trouble. It’s called canvassing — it’s not persuasion.”
