B.C. MP Don Davies has been named NDP interim leader.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
The New Democratic Party has named Vancouver-area MP Don Davies as its interim leader, according to an NDP news release.
The decision, announced Monday evening, follows a meeting of the party’s national council, which made the call with input from the NDP’s parliamentary caucus.
Mr. Davies, who won his Vancouver Kingsway seat in last week’s federal election with 37.2 per cent of the vote, has served as an MP since 2008.
He was previously the NDP’s finance critic, and sat on the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.
The statement from the party says Mr. Davies will work closely with caucus, council and party members to set a path forward as preparations begin for the leadership race in the coming months.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh resigned on election night, saying he would officially step down once an interim leader had been chosen. He had also lost his own seat.
“Jagmeet Singh led the party with courage, compassion, and a clear commitment to improving life for working people. Under his leadership, millions of Canadians gained access to child care and dental care, and millions more now receive free diabetes medication and birth control,“ the party’s release says. ”His legacy has and will continue to change lives and be felt for generations.”
The NDP had the worst showing in its history during the recent election, as it was reduced to only seven seats. The result meant it also lost party status in the House of Commons, where the threshold for recognition is 12 seats.