The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
HomePolitics & WorldCanadian PoliticsJagmeet Singh
Politics & World • Canadian Politics

Jagmeet Singh

Jagmeet Singh is a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2017 to 2025 and as the member of Parliament for Burnaby South from 2019 to 2025.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Jagmeet Singh is a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2017 to 2025 and as the member of Parliament for Burnaby South from 2019 to 2025. Born in Scarborough, Ontario, he became the first non-white person to lead a major federal political party in Canada.

Early life and education

Singh was born in Scarborough, Ontario, in 1979 and is of Punjabi Sikh background. He is a lawyer by training and later built a public profile in Ontario politics before moving to federal politics.

Political career

He was elected to the Ontario legislature in 2011 and became leader of the federal NDP in 2017. He later won the Burnaby South federal by-election and served as MP from 2019 to 2025.

Public profile

Singh is widely noted for becoming the first non-white leader of a major federal political party in Canada. He is a practising Sikh and a lawyer.

Personal life

Singh married Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu in 2018. Reports indicate they have children together, though the exact number is not consistently cited.

Key facts

  • He is a Canadian politician and lawyer.
  • He led the federal New Democratic Party from 2017 to 2025.
  • He was the MP for Burnaby South from 2019 to 2025.
  • He became the first non-white leader of a major federal political party in Canada.
  • He was born in Scarborough, Ontario, in 1979.
🍁
Canadian context

Singh is a prominent figure in Canadian federal politics and is notable for being the first non-white leader of a major federal political party in Canada.[1][3]

Frequently asked questions

Who is Jagmeet Singh?
Jagmeet Singh is a Canadian politician and lawyer who led the federal NDP from 2017 to 2025 and served as MP for Burnaby South from 2019 to 2025.
How old is Jagmeet Singh?
Jagmeet Singh was born on January 2, 1979, which makes him 47 years old as of 2026.
What party does Jagmeet Singh lead?
He led Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2017 to 2025.
What is Jagmeet Singh's net worth?
A reliable, consistently cited net worth figure was not found in the provided sources, so this cannot be verified here.
Is Jagmeet Singh married?
Yes. He is married to Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagmeet_Singh
    Supports: Birth date, full name, political offices, and leadership dates.
  2. New Democratic Partyhttps://www.ndp.ca/jagmeet
    Supports: NDP leadership and biography details.
  3. CBC Newshttps://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jagmeet-singh-profile-biography-win-1.4315780
    Supports: Ontario political career, age at election, and personal background.
  4. BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqjdp25ynn7o
    Supports: Marital status and general biography.
  5. NDTVhttps://www.ndtv.com/about/jagmeet-singh-123325
    Supports: Marriage to Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu and family details.
  6. World Economic Forumhttps://www.weforum.org/people/jagmeet-singh/
    Supports: Birthplace and background.