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The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey suggests almost three-quarters of Canadians don’t buy Mr. Mulcair’s assertion... Indeed, on average, respondents pegged the ideal threshold at 64 per cent.
The telephone poll was conducted Feb. 7-10 as The Canadian Press was soliciting the opinions of provincial NDP leaders to the federal party’s recently proposed “unity bill.”
Only one – New Brunswick’s Dominic Cardy – offered unqualified support. One other – British Columbia’s Adrian Dix – was openly opposed.
The rest kept their distance from the contentious bill, declining specific comment on what most maintained is a purely federal matter.
Sorry New Dems but T. Mulcair isn't remotely ready for prime time.
It's inconceivable that the next Liberal leader will not use this issue to hammer the NDP in the rest of Canada.
ReplyDeleteAnd what about the NDP caucus? My MP, Randall Garrison (NDP) did not campaign on this issue. It wasn't on the radar. I really doubt any NDP mp outside of Quebec appreciates Mulcair choosing to make this a defining policy.
It was during Layton's tenure that the 50%+1 principle for a sovereignty vote became an NDP policy (joining other somewhat dubious policies, like worldwide socialism, that the NDP often, properly, de-emphasizes). But this policy combined with Iggy's bad campaign, resulted in a record number of Quebec NDP MPs.
After Layton died, the sovereignty issue reared its head again during the NDP leadership race. In fairly ugly ways.
But just because it was an issue in the leadership race doesn't mean Mulcair couldn't have de-emphasized it once the race was over.
Either Mulcair is a much weaker leader than he appears and is being bullied by his Quebec caucus, or he actually is a soft-sovereignist.
I think Mulcair is a weak but impulsive leader. He bungled the Tar Sands issue. He made the Dutch Disease argument which offended plenty of Albertans. But, instead of defending his position, he caved and, in the process, disappointed many of his initial supporters.
ReplyDeleteNow he's at odds with the Canadian people on 50+1. He seems to have narrowed the NDP to a Quebec-centric organization.
Mulcair is handing the Liberals and the Conservatives ample ammunition to undermine his support in the next election. The House that Jack Built is looking pretty wobbly since the new guy moved in.