Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was officially sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP) in Ottawa on Sunday afternoon — making him the first person of colour to lead a federal party in Canadian history.
He won the seat for the federal riding of Burnaby South in a by-election last month.
Singh fills the seat vacated by former NDP MP – and now Vancouver Mayor – Kennedy Stewart.
He won the seat won with 38.8% of the vote over Liberal candidate Richard T. Lee who managed 26.1% of the vote, with 96% of polls counted.
In a speech after he was sworn in, Jagmeet Singh thanked the people of Burnaby South for allowing him to be their voice in Ottawa, as well as his friends, family and supporters.
“Any time you achieve anything, there are so many people that made it possible. You never do it alone.”
He says as a kid, he never would have imagined being in this position.
“I would’ve never imagined that someone who looks like me could ever run to be prime minister,” Singh said in a statement issued by the party on Sunday.
Singh said he is committed to building on late NDP leader Jack Layton’s message of love, hope and optimism with courage.