Thomas Mulcair explains why he jumped to the New Democratic Party

Shortly after the April 20th official announcement that he was joining the New Democratic Party of Canada, Mr. Mulcair was on his way to Ottawa to meet with party strategists and permanent staff.

This past Wednesday, minutes before he was to meet the NDP caucus on Parliament Hill, the veteran Quebec politician spoke to Courrier Laval and Courrier Laval Weekly News in a telephone interview broaching a number of hot issues surrounding his latest foray into the political arena, this time at the federal level, following 13 years of service in the Quebec National Assembly, the last four in cabinet.

Mr. Mulcair described his newest political mandate as “a building process to secure quality candidates that will give the NDP a strong and viable team for the upcoming federal election,” expected in the not too distant future.

Although the riding in which he himself will seek to represent has yet to be determined, Mr. Mulcair expressed a preference for a Laval-island constituency as his first choice. But if a by-election is called for Outremont any time soon, he says he’ll have to give it serious consideration.

Quizzed on his first choice (Laval) and reminded that his old provincial riding of Chomedey falls within the federal constituency of Laval-Les Îles, would he consider running against long-serving Liberal incumbent Raymonde Folco? “Laval has more than one federal constituency,” he simply retorted matter-of-factly, letting the issue hang in the air.

What did he think of the caricature? He laughed, but also pointed out that “Well, the fact that we appeared in a political cartoon on the editorial page is proof that the event was newsworthy.”

What of the chances of the NDP in Quebec, mostly a barren wasteland for the left-of-centre democratic socialists in past elections? According to Thomas Mulcair, the party is set to make a concerted move in La Belle Province. “There were three (contending) parties at the federal level in Quebec, but very soon there will be four. And in four-way races, the NDP will win seats,” he believes.

What did he think of the leaking of a major announcement on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, a copy of the speech which mysteriously showed up on a Liberal Party of Canada fax machine a day before Conservative federal environment minister John Baird was scheduled to deliver it?

“Having been in politics for many years, I’m not surprised that this would happen. When there’s a more controversial issue in the public eye, such as (Canada’s role) in Afghanistan, the ploy is to create a diversion to take the heat off the other problem,” explained Mr. Mulcair, the experienced politician who served as Liberal house leader in the National Assembly when the Quebec Liberal Party sat in opposition, before coming to power 2003.

This past Sunday, thousands of Quebecers sent a message to the Harper government concerning Canada's commitment to coping with the negative effects of climatic changes. Among the thousands of people who attended a 'Quebec Vert Kyoto' demonstration in Montreal on Earth Day this past Sunday was former Quebec Environment Minister and newly-declared NDP candidate Thomas Mulcair, who stated: "Canada already has laws in place, what is needed now is the political will (to respect them)."

Also defending the Kyoto Accord was NDP leader Jack Layton, who on Earth Day stated: "I believe the people are asking their government to adopt serious measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced in our country. One day, instead of seeking solutions for the ills that torment our planet, we'll be able to celebrate Earth Day in appreciation of its resplendent health. In the meantime, the NDP will continue to fight for laws that ensure the sustainable well-being of our planet." (J.F.)