While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has received most of the press from the economic response to the COVID-19 lockdown, another federal actor has received far less credit from the country’s right-wing media for the major role played in shaping those measures: Jagmeet Singh, leading the charge for COVID-19 economic support with his New Democratic caucus.

The tepid initial measures announced by the Liberal Party immediately came under criticism by the New Democrats – particularly surrounding direct financial support to working-class Canadians.  While the Liberals were prepared to make major payments to the tar-sands industry and to big business, pressure was required to ensure Canadian workers and working class families had needed support.  That pressure was effectively applied by the New Democratic caucus – leading to the major suite of government intervention actions taken by the Liberal minority government.

Jagmeet Singh’s New Democrats were crucial in establishing the $2,000 monthly Canada emergency response benefit, which has permitted Canadians left jobless by COVID-19 to maintain some degree of financial stability in the face of record unemployment. The NDP has also been responsible for pressing the expansion of that benefit to more Canadians, along with a smaller benefit for Canadian students. Singh has even pressed the Liberals to go further, and turn the CERB into a universal basic income for Canadians – an idea with wide support among the Canadian public.

For small businesses and those employed in the face of the pandemic, the NDP was instrumental in pressing for the 75% wage subsidy that has permitted scores of employers to keep workers on staff, and off of the employment insurance rolls. Initially set at 10%, it was pressure from the New Democratic Party that saw the meaningful expansion of the program to a 75% subsidy.  However, while the NDP has pressed to support Canadian workers and small business, the NDP has also aggressively fought against unfettered corporate welfare, and sought to pull bailout money from companies that stock away slush funds in foreign tax havens, to avoid paying Canadian taxes – while the Liberal government has refused to pull taxpayer dollars away from those companies.