Mulcair’s NDP alternative
Leader believes defined policies, experience sets NDP apart
Canada’s official Opposition bills itself as the only choice for progressives — the party with clear policies and an experienced leader.
MONTREAL — As the popular and charismatic Justin Trudeau gets set to take the helm of the Liberal Party, Canada’s official Opposition billed itself as the only choice for progressives — the party with clear policies and an experienced leader.
That was NDP leader Tom Mulcair’s message on Sunday as the party wrapped up its biennial three- day policy convention just hours before the Liberal coronation.
“The NDP is going to form government in 2015. The way we’re going to do it is to reach out beyond our traditional base, talk to progressives across the country and make them realize that only one result is possible if you want to get rid of Stephen Harper,” he told reporters.
“We’re the only ones who have ever stood up to Stephen Harper, and we’re the only ones who are going to replace him.”
Much of the party’s largest policy convention, which featured nearly 2,000 registered delegates, was geared toward positioning it as the government- in- waiting.
But it’s clear New Democrats were conscious of the pending Liberal leadership announcement. The backdrop for Mulcair’s speech on Saturday — in which he bashed both the Conservatives and the Liberals — said “Leadership” and “Experience,” a not- so- veiled attempt to contrast the NDP leader’s image with Trudeau’s perceived vagueness on policy and his political inexperience.
But some MPs in attendance downplayed the degree to which Trudeau was a topic of discussion at the convention.
“I’m intrigued how little conversation people have had with me about Trudeau,” NDP House leader Nathan Cullen said. “People aren’t talking about it. They’re talking about what we’re doing.”
While the NDP has largely ignored the Liberals given its third party status, University of British Columbia political scientist and former NDP candidate Michael Byers suggested this weekend’s efforts to present Mulcair’s softer side and have him take on policy questions in an unscripted town hall session was definitely strategic.
“The town hall was an hourlong demonstration of substance and his ability to handle questions on policy in a rigorous way,” he said, adding the personal video featuring members of his family was an “attempt to connect with Canadians” by being more open about his personal life.
“It’s not an attempt to exceed Justin Trudeau on charisma, but it’s an attempt to present Tom as the very well rounded political leader that he is,” he said.
Mulcair, who avoided mentioning Trudeau by name Sunday, dismissed the Grit’s favourable polling numbers, noting some polls showed the NDP in fourth place in Quebec days before it won 58 seats there in 2011.