VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – NDP leader Tom Mulcair will campaign in Vancouver today as comments on the oilsands from one of the party’s prominent candidates are stirring up a political hornet’s nest.

Author Linda McQuaig and candidate for the riding of Toronto Centre said on a political panel show on Friday that if Canada wants to meet its climate change targets, a lot of the oilsands oil may have to stay in the ground.

Mulcair is likely to be asked about the controversial comments when he appears at a rally (at the Westin Bayshore hotel) in downtown Vancouver today at 12:30 p.m.

He has said he’s open to oilsands development provided there is rigorous environmental protection and legislation to force oil companies to pay for pollution they create.

NEWS 1130 will have a reporter there.