LETTER

NDP’s leader?

 

Having read Fred Ryan’s editorial a while back suggesting that Tom Mulcair might still be the best candidate to continue as leader of the NDP, I still think so, and was extremely disappointed by the treatment he received in Edmonton. I think many of the old-school party members completely misunderstood what happened in the election, and unfairly wanted to make a scapegoat of Mulcair to cover a basic weakness of the party on the ground.  

The incredible sweep that Trudeau and the Liberals made was very surprising, but these things happen in politics. With the Conservatives targetting Mulcair and the negative press coverage, the NDP was certainly outflanked by the Liberals. While I always thought Justin Trudeau seemed shallow, I must give them credit for doing a reasonable job in governing for the time being - certainly a refreshing relief from the dark days of the Harper Conservatives.

I am not seeing anyone emerging yet as a leading candidate for the NDP leadership, so I hope that a movement to draft Mulcair will emerge as I think that he is very well-positioned for a strong recovery to at least official opposition status in the next election.  

Larry Gemmel
Val-des-Monts