As he reflects on his long career in politics, Karl Bélanger says the New Democratic Party's recent electoral fall from Official Opposition to third party in 2015 did not factor in to his decision to leave his job as the party's national director.

"I've been involved in six federal campaigns on tour with the leader. I haven't won any of them, so I don't think there's a link to be made there," he said. "The career average for a political staffer on Parliament Hill is four years, I lasted 19 — not bad."

The now-former national director of the NDP announced he was leaving politics Wednesday during the party's caucus retreat in Montreal. Bélanger has been a party spokesperson and top adviser under Tom Mulcair, Jack Layton and Alexa McDonough.

"I was a little sad. I admit there might have been a teary eye," he said. "I was touched by the support and the warm applause from the MPs when they heard I was leaving. I told them that they have the solid base to move forward and I told them I was leaving my job but not leaving the party."

He said he's leaving politics, but not the party because he has decided he wants to spend more time with his family.

Rebuilding the party

He said the NDP is reflecting on how the political landscape has changed in the year since the party was reduced from a record 103 seats to 44.

"It's a solid base with which to build on," he said. "In 1993, the party elected only nine MPs and people ruled us out for dead. We were not going to come back, but we did and it led us to the Orange Wave in 2011. Now there was a setback, but that's the second best result in our history."

Karl Bélanger served as principal secretary to Tom Mulcair and national party director of the NDP. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

However, that showing didn't appease the party's membership which voted for a leadership review of Mulcair at the party convention in April.

While Mulcair has stayed on as temporary leader until the party replaces him next year, NDP MPs raised issues with the party's low profile and slow fundraising over the summer.

Bélanger said it was right for Mulcair to stay on and for caucus to continue to support him

"That is the outcome that I think is the best for the party for the time being," he said. "In a year, membership will have to make a decision about where the party should go. I am eager to hear from the candidates soon.

​"I hope some of them will announce their candidacy and start debating their ideas. I think the membership is eager hear what the different visions will be."

There are no declared candidates so far in the NDP leadership race. A new leader will be chosen in October 2017.