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We just have not inspired urban voters in Ontario for quite some time

But not selling Alberta oil is simply necessary, Gigantes says, because the atmosphere can’t afford it if we do. “We just have to move forward, and a key part of what we’ve got to do is make sure we’ve got a solid approach to offer Canadians in terms of what is happening to the climate. It’s imperative. We all know it, we’ve just got to take the bull by the horns and do it.”

There’s an opportunity for left-wing ideas now, Gigantes says, as voters tune into growing inequality and the capture of their governments by corporations.

In Ottawa in particular, Gigantes — who’s been a candidate recruiter — believes the party needs more candidates like Emilie Taman, the lawyer who lost her federal job when she ran for the NDP in Ottawa-Vanier last fall. Educated women, supported by strong organizations.

Dewar made the rounds Monday, saying he thought Mulcair deserved to stay on as leader and rebuild the party. He refused to talk about a comeback or seeking the leadership himself.

Since last fall’s federal wipeout, Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney is the only officeholder here with an orange light burning in her window. McKenney’s a rookie councillor but an experienced politician. She’s worked for luminaries like councillors Diane Holmes and Alex Munter, and for Dewar and Ed Broadbent on Parliament Hill.

She didn’t want to talk about the state of her party Monday, relaying through a staffer that she’s focused on her ward. She had a Chinatown merchants’ meeting to get to, and a job to do.

Getting other candidates to sign up with a party that doesn’t know what it stands for and doesn’t have a real leader will be hard. Getting them to do it knowing that Mulcair is on his way out, already rejected by his own people, will be almost impossible. A zombie does not build.