While the NDP party won 25 seats during the 2021 federal election, about one seat better than 2019, the party's former president believes the party performed well and its foundation and leadership remain strong.

"I think the party ran a strong campaign," said Peggy Nash, who also represented Parkdale-High Park as an MP twice. "I think there was a lot that they did well, and Jagmeet Singh presented a very likable figure as a leader - he stayed on message in terms of fighting to make life better for Canadians and he held other parties to account on failed promises, especially the Liberals who have been in government."

The party finished third to the Liberal party, who formed another minority government with 158 seats, and the Conservatives who retained as the Official Opposition with 119 seats.

This mirrors the NDP’s results in the 2019 election, who finished with 24 seats.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has gone through two federal elections, being the first NDP leader since Jack Layton to lead the party through multiple elections.

Peggy Nash says Jagmeet's Singh continues to perform well with the party and Canadians. Photo courtesy of the NDP's official website.

With no calls for a leadership review, Singh is expected to continue leading the party through the current minority government’s tenure.

"I don't think his leadership is in question," said Nash. "He is somebody that is quite well-liked in the party, quite well-liked by Canadians, and personally I have not heard any calls for a leadership review."

Singh was voted as favourable with 45 per cent as most likeable leader in late August, the highest among federal leaders, according to an Ipsos poll.

Further, she said there was "a lack of voting on university campuses." Singh spent a great deal of time on campuses to reach out to younger voters. Nash said this was due to less polling stations, as well as long lines that discouraged voters.

Moving forward, Nash said the NDP still needs to rebuild its support in Quebec to gain more seats. Quebec was a key province in the party's best showing in the 2011 election.

She is confident in the NDP's platform, specifically on taxation and job creation. She said there was also the "question of trust," and Canadians wanted a minority government so parties work together - a factor in Nash's support for electoral reform and proportional representation.

Nash represented the Toronto riding of Parkdale High Park from 2006 to 2008, and from 2011 to 2015.

She is currently a professor at X University.

Listen to Peggy Nash's full interview here: