Mulcair’s absence raises questions

OTTAWA — NDP Leader Tom Mulcair’s public absence since his party was humbled Monday in the federal election has party officials scrambling to clear up speculation about his future.

Mulcair has not made any public appearances or spoken with the media since he delivered a short concession speech after the election, in which the NDP finished third. Party officials say he’s staying on as leader.

Mulcair was absent Thursday from a service at the National War Memorial in Ottawa to mark the oneyear anniversary of the terrorist attack at the cenotaph and on Parliament Hill.

Prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie, sat next to outgoing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife, Laureen, during the service, which honoured Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent. Green party Leader Elizabeth May also attended.

Mulcair was at his home in Montreal, remaining out of sight for the third consecutive day, as questions about his political future swirled. NDP deputy leader David Christopherson represented the party at the ceremony. Mulcair issued a written statement, saying the “horrifying attacks shocked our country,” and paying tribute to Cirillo and Vincent.

The NDP’s dramatic fall from the top of the polls only a month ago to third-party status has some party insiders and political observers debating whether Mulcair should stick around for another election.

The party lost more than half its seats, dropping to 44, and was wiped out in Toronto and Atlantic Canada as Trudeau’s Liberals captured a majority government.

With Mulcair silent about his future, it has been up to his political staffers to tell Canadians about his location and intentions. “He is in Montreal. And yes, he is sticking around,” Mulcair’s press secretary, George Smith, said Thursday in an email. “You’ll see him in the coming days.”