Mulcair makes mistake

Re: Sovereignty gambit exposes Mulcair, Jan. 30.

The difference in winning or losing an election often comes down to the mistakes a leader makes. The decision by Thomas Mulcair to get out in front of a private members’ bill that would change the Clarity Act will be classed as one of those mistakes.

People within and outside Quebec were happy with the Clarity Act, as the notion of a clear majority eliminated the possibility of fraud, and made leaving the country more than just 50 per cent plus one. Opening up the unity debate is indicative of a leader who doesn’t seem to understand that once you have achieved success, you do whatever you cannot to mess it up. Beneficiaries of Mulcair’s blunder will of course be the Conservatives (to a lesser degree Justin Trudeau in Quebec).

The NDP carbon pricing proposal, and the Dutch Disease comment made the NDP a hard sell in the West. Tinkering with the Clarity Act leaves the chances of a breakthrough in the West virtually impossible. The Liberal fortunes have always depended on Quebec, and under a new leader, most likely Trudeau, and the opening of a unity debate by the NDP that no one wants, the Liberals have an opportunity for a rebirth in that province. With the Liberals and NDP fighting over votes, a second Conservative majority becomes a distinct possibility.

When Mulcair stood on the steps of Parliament and said that Britain has accepted a 50-plus-one decision, in Scotland’s vote on separation, he ended his chances at being prime minister of this country.

JEFF SPOONER, Kinburn