NDP prevents caucus revolt in Montreal over Tom Mulcair’s continued leadership

MONTREAL — The NDP managed to avert a caucus revolt in Montreal on Wednesday, as MPs emerged to show continued support for outgoing leader Tom Mulcair.

The party is now trying to turn its attention to its work in Parliament while it attempts to deal with internal matters such as shrinking fundraising and sliding poll numbers.

Mulcair, who is set to stay at the helm of the NDP until a successor is named in fall 2017, has been under recent pressure from some current and former MPs to leave immediately.

Mulcair emerged from closed-door discussions Wednesday morning to say he was "honoured and humbled" by the continued support.

No formal leadership vote took place during the meeting, said caucus chair Charlie Angus, who acknowledged the party's base has been frustrated following a disastrous October election.

"We've been a little lost ... we've been trying to find our sea legs," Angus said.

"We know that. So, for us, this meeting was about kicking our butts and saying 'Come on, there are a lot of people who are out there who are waiting for us'."

So far, there are no official candidates to replace Mulcair.

NDP House leader Peter Julian, who is considering a leadership run, said Wednesday the party will rebuild itself through its work.

"What we have to do is show the differences between the Liberal promises and the reality," Julian said.

"The government has a very good image machine but that's quite superficial. Beyond the image that the government puts out, not a lot has changed for regular families, not a lot has changed for impoverished seniors."

It is critical for MPs to remain united and give Mulcair a unanimous show of support as the party prepares to return to the House, said British Columbia MP Don Davies.

"It is a challenging time," Davies said. "It is a year after the election and I don't think we are where we would like to be ... when you're lower in the polls, there's naturally people who are agitating for some change and those are important people to listen to."

During the fall sitting of Parliament, the NDP plans to challenge the Liberal government on issues including climate change, health-care funding and indigenous affairs.

It intends to push for the repeal of Bill C-51, a controversial piece of anti-terrorism legislation passed by the previous government.

The Liberals have promised to amend the law, but New Democrats accuse the Trudeau government of moving too slowly on planned reforms.

The NDP's central job is to hold the Liberals to account on what they are delivering to Canadians, said MP Murray Rankin.

Rankin said he hopes the NDP will take on the Liberal government in a constructive, positive way and point out shortcomings when they happen.

Behind the scenes, a number of NDP staffing changes are also underway as the party prepares for the fall.

Karl Belanger, a 19-year party veteran who served as Mulcair's principal secretary, is leaving.

Prior to the party's spring convention in Edmonton, Belanger also served as the party's interim national director.

"At some point, you need to move on," Belanger said.

"The party is entering a renewal process, they are going to choose a new leader and that new leader is going to choose a new team and the members, in their wisdom, will make the right decision for the party."

Robert Fox, a former Oxfam executive, has taken over as national director.

He said he is very confident about being able to rebuild the party and believes his experience as an outsider will be beneficial.

"The party is looking to someone who has experience in the social movement with issue-based campaigning," Fox said.

"I'm a change agent ... I'm being brought in to challenge assumptions."

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Kristy Kirkup, The Canadian Press