OTTAWA – Jagmeet Singh has selected leadership rival Guy Caron to lead the NDP in the House of Commons.
Singh, a member of the Ontario legislature who won the party leadership last weekend, has no Commons seat.
He says Caron will be parliamentary leader in the House while B.C. MP Murray Rankin will remain as House leader.
Singh was welcomed with loud cheers as he met his parliamentary caucus earlier today.
Caron said on issues of Quebec, he’s ready to work together with Singh.
When asked about Quebec independence, Caron said Singh has always supported the Sherbrooke declaration, which says that Quebec has a unique identity, but it still belongs in the context of Canada.
“It leads us today to be able to work together on this,” he told reporters after the caucus.
WATCH: Jagmeet Singh speaks after first NDP caucus meeting as leader
Singh said he has plans to grow support in Quebec.
“It’s also a province, a nation, that’s one of the most progressive in our federalist context,” he said. “It’s a place where they have affordable tuition fees, affordable day care.
“They’ve shown, led the way on a number of progressive fronts. It’s a place we can connect to people because of our values.”
Neither outgoing leader Tom Mulcair nor Ontario MP Charlie Angus, who finished the leadership race a distant second to Singh, were in attendance.
Mulcair is travelling and Angus says he is spending time in his northern Ontario riding.
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