Soon after the election was called, I asked the leaders of the four main
political parties in English Canada — Elizabeth May (Green Party), Jagmeet Singh
(NDP), Mark Carney (Liberals) and Pierre Poilievre (Conservatives) — some questions
related to faith and politics. It was for my faith page column in the Winnipeg
Free Press. (I had done something similar during the Manitoba provincial
election in 2023.)
I asked the leaders about their view of faith groups that address social
issues in Canada, about foreign aid, freedom of religion (coming out of the
pandemic), the expansion of MAiD, about antisemitism and Islamophobia, and how they
might support faith-based groups in Ottawa. And I invited them to share about
what their faith meant to them.
Elizabeth May called me right away. The NDP replied later with answers
from Jagmeet Singh. The Liberals said they were too busy to respond. And I received
no response from the Conservatives at all—not even an acknowledgement of my
request.
Since I didn’t have responses from the two main political parties—the
most likely to form the next government—I decided not to publish anything in
the Free Press.
But May and Singh did such good jobs in responding that I felt it wasn’t
fair to them not to share their replies. Find them below.
Elizabeth May, Green Party
May said she and the Green Party understand the valuable role faith
groups play in addressing social issues in Canada, and they would seek ways
to support them as they serve.
She made it clear the Greens wouldn’t prioritize faith-based groups when
it came to government funding, but said they want to ensure there is “a level
playing field . . . we understand the critical role they play.”
When it comes to freedom
of religion, May said that it is a charter right for people to “worship as
they see fit.” Curtailing religious services during the pandemic was a
reasonable response, she said, since the goal was to “protect the health of all
Canadians.”
On the subject of foreign
aid,
the Greens or completely in favour of reaching the target of 0.7 per cent of
GDP set by former Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson, May said, noting the
highest it has ever been was in 1992 when Brian Mulroney, a Conservative, was
prime minister.
Since then, it is “shameful
and shocking how low it has been,” she said, adding “our goal should be a
livable world for all” and that “Canada should shoulder its fair share of the
load” when it comes to global poverty and hunger.
Most Canadians, she
noted, think that the amount of money Canada spends on foreign aid is higher
than it really is. “Shame on Poilievre for saying he wants to cut it,” she said,
adding Canada should not follow the Trump administration in cutting foreign aid.
“How can we turn our
backs on the people of Gaza, Somalia, South Sudan and other countries where
people are suffering?” she asked, adding Canada should also return to its
historic role of peacekeeping—something “we are still respected for around the
world.”
May and the Greens
oppose the expansion of MAiD, expressing special concern for the rights and
needs of people with disabilities. “Our focus should be on building the social
safety net before expanding MAiD,” she said.
May said she sympathizes
with people who are suffering and see MAiD as the best alternative. “But I am concerned
for the disabled community, it’s a very slippery slope,” she said.
Greens are opposed
to all forms of hate, she said, including antisemitism and islamophobia. “There
is no space or place for any kind of hatred in Canada,” May said.
Greens would also be in
favour of supporting faith-based groups and making sure they have a voice in
Ottawa, May
said, noting she is co-chair of the All-Party Interfaith Caucus in Parliament.
She wants to hear ideas from Canada’s religious communities about public policy
challenges and find ways to support their efforts to contribute to society.
As for her own faith, May said the teachings
of Jesus “are deeply embedded in my life and faith . . . faith has always
impacted my life.”
May went on to say she
draws inspiration from Ephesians 3:20: “God is able to do far more abundantly
than all we ask or think, according to the power that is at work within us.”
For her, that means “although the odds are daunting, I believe God can do more
through me than I imagine.”
Jagmeet Singh, NDP
In an e-mail, Singh said he recognized the role faith groups play in addressing
social issues. “All across Canada, faith communities are showing up,” he
said. “Feeding people, housing people, supporting folks through addiction and
mental health struggles. They’re doing it with love, compassion, and without
asking for anything in return. That’s powerful.”
The NDP sees the value
in that work, “and we respect it deeply,” he said. “We’re committed to
supporting faith-based organizations with stable funding, and we’ll make sure
federal programs are actually accessible—especially for grassroots groups who
are often serving the most vulnerable. We want to work in real partnership, not
just shake hands at events. Because when faith communities succeed in lifting
people up, all of us are better off.”
When it comes to religious
freedom, Singh said it is “a fundamental right in this country—and I will
always defend it.
No one should ever be denied the right to practice their faith, gather in
worship, or express their beliefs peacefully.”
He went on to say that,
during the pandemic, Canadians made a lot of sacrifices to protect one another,
including not gathering. “I know how hard it was for faith communities not to
gather, especially during holidays and holy days,” he said. “In the future, we
need to make sure public health decisions include meaningful consultation with
community leaders—and always reflect the Charter rights that hold us together.”
The NDP also recognizes
the important of foreign aid. “People of faith are often the first to give
and the last to ask for anything in return. I’ve seen that generosity first-hand,”
Singh said, adding he believes Canada “has a responsibility to be there for
others—especially in times of crisis. We support increasing foreign aid and
making sure funding is stable, transparent, and accessible for NGOs, including
faith-based organizations who do this work from a place of deep moral
commitment. We want to make sure those doing the work on the ground—building
peace, fighting hunger, responding to disasters—have the resources they need.”
When it comes to the expansion
of MAiD
to people experiencing mental illness, Singh said “this is an incredibly
serious and sensitive issue,” he said. “For me, it comes down to this: no one
should ever be in a position where they consider MAiD because they can’t get
the mental health care they need—or because they feel abandoned.”
The NDP has been clear,
he went on to say. “There must be strong safeguards, full access to care, and a
system that treats every life with dignity. We need to listen—to people with
lived experience, to faith communities, to mental health professionals—and move
forward with caution and compassion.”
Regarding antisemitism,
Islamophobia and hate of all kinds, Singh said it is a personal issue for many in
Canada—including him. “No one should ever fear going to synagogue, to mosque,
to school, or to work because of who they are,” he said, adding the NDP will enact
tougher laws against hate crimes, proper funding for security at places of
worship and education programs that fight ignorance with understanding.
“We have to be loud and
clear that there’s no room for antisemitism or Islamophobia in this country—and
we won’t stay silent when it shows up,” he said.
When asked if he had
anything else to offer about what faith meant to him, Singh—who is a Sikh—said
“my faith teaches me that we’re all connected, that our purpose in life is to
serve others with love, courage, and humility. There’s a word in Sikhism: seva.
It means selfless service. That’s what drives me . . . I believe in standing up
for people who’ve been pushed down or left behind. And I carry those values
with me every day in how I lead, how I speak, and how I try to show up for
people. My faith reminds me that leadership isn’t about power. It’s about
service.”
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