The former leader of the federal NDP, Jagmeet Singh, is reportedly in the running to head a major Crown corporation. Singh, who helped prop up the minority Trudeau Liberal government, is said to be being considered for the position of CEO at Destination Canada.
Destination Canada is a federal Crown corporation dedicated to promoting and marketing Canada as a tourist destination around the world. The Toronto Sun has not been able to verify these claims, but if true, it would be a significant development for the tourism industry.
The current CEO of Destination Canada, Marsha Walden, recently retired from the federal public service after six years in the position. Walden had previously served as the president and CEO of Destination British Columbia and had spent a decade in various senior management and executive roles with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.
An anonymous tourism industry source has described Singh's possible appointment as an "insult" to both tourism and the organization. They argue that the position requires a candidate with strong industry experience, rather than a politician looking to cash in on their connections.
The base salary range for the CEO of Destination Canada is between $271,700 and $319,600 annually, with the possibility of additional performance bonuses. The candidate selected for the position would be entitled to this compensation package, which has raised concerns about the perceived value of the appointment.
Jagmeet Singh propped up the struggling Trudeau government in 2023, entering into a supply and confidence agreement that allowed the NDP to influence policy in exchange for supporting the Liberal government. However, this agreement ultimately backfired for the NDP, leading to a catastrophic collapse in the 2025 federal election.
The election saw the NDP lose official party status in the House of Commons, and Singh himself failed to win his seat in Burnaby Central. This has led to accusations that the government is rewarding Singh for his role in propping up the Trudeau Liberals, rather than selecting a candidate with the necessary expertise for the position.
Conservative Tourism Critic Tony Baldinelli has accused the government of making a mistake in considering Singh for the position, saying that Canada's tourism industry deserves a candidate with experience and qualifications, rather than a Liberal insider looking to cash in on their connections.
