SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — He is the candidate many of Canada’s New Democrats hope will make the jump to the federal level, a bright light in the future of the party, many of Singh’s supporters regard him as a leader who could compete against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

However, outside of the Greater Toronto Area, few have heard the name Jagmeet Singh.

The 38-year-old is a confident and charming political organizer who currently serves as the deputy leader of Ontario’s chapter of the New Democratic Party. With a provincial election just around the corner in 2018, Singh has a very important decision to make.

Does he jump into a federal leadership race? Or does he stick around provincially and set himself up to take over leadership of the party from Andrea Horwath if she loses the next election, or a senior cabinet position if she wins.

During an interview with the Huffington Post, Singh acknowledged this precise dilemma.

“I’m considering all the options. What would be in the best interest of Canada,” he said. “What would be in the best interests of the progressive movement… these are some of the factors that I’m thinking about as I chat with folks.”

Provincially, you couldn’t pick a better time to be a New Democrat, he said. Singh noted that in the 1990s, when provincial leader Bob Rae won a surprise majority government, it gave the party “an amazing opportunity to really shine.”

Regardless, Singh, who speaks English, Punjabi and French, is weighing his options in the matter. His supporters are calling for Singh to enter the federal race, where he has been gaining interest, fundraising capacity and organizational strength. “I’m definitely keeping the doors open, listening to what people have to say. I’m really honoured by my position, like I’m really excited with what I’m doing provincially as well, so I will definitely continue to listen to what people have to say,” he told the Post. 

Singh is clear on what he wants the party to be — they need to compete to win. He views 2019 as the year the New Democratic Party can truly compete in Ontario.

“I firmly believe that you have to be in a position of power to influence change, and you can see how much amazing change can be brought when you are in power,” he said, citing Rachel Notley’s NDP government in Alberta. “Within a year, they froze tuition fees, they implemented a change in the way electoral financing happens, they brought in $15 minimum wage. They brought in so many epic things.”