Ottawa, May 26, 2025: The New Democratic Party (NDP) will not be granted official party status in the House of Commons, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon confirmed on Monday. The decision comes in the wake of the party’s worst electoral performance in Canadian history, following the 2025 federal election.
Under the Parliament of Canada Act, a political party must secure at least 12 seats in the House to attain official party status. The NDP won just seven seats, far below the required threshold. The consequences are severe—without official status, the NDP loses vital parliamentary privileges, including increased speaking time, committee memberships, and access to additional public funding.
The party’s collapse at the polls also saw NDP leader Jagmeet Singh lose his Burnaby Central seat. He resigned shortly thereafter, with Don Davies appointed interim leader on May 5. Despite Singh’s exit, the party has vowed to regroup, but its lack of status will restrict its influence in federal proceedings moving forward.
The 2025 election dealt a crushing blow to the NDP, which garnered only 6.3% of the national vote and lost 17 of its previous 24 seats. The setback has triggered a period of deep reflection and uncertainty for a party that has historically played a pivotal role in shaping progressive policies in Canada.
