Turmel ‘proud’ to turn NDP caucus over to party’s new leader
OTTAWA — “I’m really proud of the work we have done over the last nine months,” she said after the meeting.
“I’m really proud of the team. They are united and focused and I am ready to just hand it over to the new leader.”
The House of Commons will rise Friday for a weeklong break, during which time New Democrats will elect a permanent leader to fill the shoes of Jack Layton, who died of cancer in August.
Turmel said the biggest challenge was getting the caucus ready for the fall session and believes the NDP, under her leadership, succeeded in holding the Tories to account on such issues like health care, job security and aboriginal issues.
She pointed to a number of NDP motions that received unanimous support as proof the party has, in fact, mounted an effective opposition despite criticism to the contrary.
She also dismissed the latest polls that suggest the Bloc Quebecois is enjoying a resurgence in Quebec where the NDP has a record 58 seats as well as criticism that she may have been outshone by the thirdplace Liberal Party’s seasoned interim leader Bob Rae
“I am a new leader,” she said. “I did what I had to do to ... prepare this caucus for the new leader and I did it.”
Turmel said she leaves the job “relieved” that it’s over, but with a “heavy heart.” She looks forward to getting back into constituency work and while she’d like to remain an active caucus member, what role she might play will be up to the party’s new leader.
Caucus members said there were plenty of tears and words of support exchanged during the two-hour meeting where Turmel was presented with a bouquet of flowers, a photograph of her with fellow MPS signed by the members and a painting by Ojibway artist John Laford from Manitoulin Island in Ontario.
Fellow Quebec MP Helene Laverdiere said it was an emotional day for everybody and there was a real sense of “purpose” and “solidarity” in the room during Turmel’s last caucus address.
Later in the House of Commons, Layton’s widow and fellow MP Olivia Chow led a standing ovation after publicly thanking the “longest-serving woman leader of the opposition” for stepping up.
Calling her a “committed Canadian” and “shining example” for all politicians, Chow highlighted Turmel’s successes during her eight months at the party’s helm.
“She has worked tirelessly to put Canadian families first and she has obtained results,” Chow said.
“As Conservative policies saw jobs shipped down south, under her leadership, the NDP plan on jobs and the economy passed unanimously. She fought for aboriginal families and under her leadership, the Shannen’s Dream motion passed unanimously. While other leaders argued about whose dirty tricks were worse, she unanimously passed a motion to give Elections Canada the tools to clean up this mess.”
Even Bob Rae had some kind words for his NDP counterpart: “To be thrown into, effectively, the leader of the Opposition’s job after really only a few days in the House of Commons is quite a remarkable thing,” he said Wednesday.
“I think she’s shown a lot of determination, certainly an incredible amount of effort going across the country and representing the party. I think all members of the House have a lot of respect for her, a lot of affection for her.”
Layton asked Turmel, a newly elected Quebec MP who used to serve as president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, to fill in as the party’s leader in July as he battled a new bout of cancer.
When Layton lost that fight, Turmel’s role was expanded to not just prepare the party for the fall session, but to also take on Stephen Harper in the House of Commons, mount an effective official Opposition and keep the party from fracturing while members selected a new leader — which New Democrats will do in Toronto later this month.
Turmel refused to say Wednesday who she’d endorse and indicated she would make her final decision at the leadership convention.
MPS Thomas Mulcair, Paul Dewar, Niki Ashton, Nathan Cullen and Peggy Nash are all seeking the top job.
So too are former president and party strategist Brian Topp and Nova Scotia businessman Martin Singh.