The candidate for the Conservative Party in the Outremont riding has challenged NDP Leader Tom Mulcair to a debate on local issues.

Rodolphe Husny is a former press secretary in the Harper government and used to work for the Ministry of International Trade. He says he believes Mulcair must be tested on issues that matter to people in their riding.

“Thomas Mulcair was just pursuing his own career plan. He has not been the MP for Outremont. He has posters here in this riding, but he hasn’t been here. I formally challenge him to come to Outremont and talk about his tax-and-spend agenda and his tax hikes against the middle class,” he said.

Mulcair garnered 55 per cent of the vote in 2011 in the riding, while the Liberals finished second and Husny and the Tories received 8 per cent of the vote. Mulcair has represented Outremont, which includes the borough of Outremont and parts of Cote-des-Neiges, the Mile End, the Ville Marie borough and others, since 2007.

Husny has been involved in issues surrounding the economy his entire life. His mother worked at the HEC Montreal business school, he is a graduate of that school, and he worked for the international trade minister.

Jason Kenney, the incumbent Conservative candidate in the Calgary South riding, accompanied Husny during his announcement Monday.