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“I’ve taken positions in my life that weren’t immediately appreciated — I’m willing to live with that,” Mulcair said at a news conference northwest of Quebec City, where he committed to spend $105 million over three years to bolster the struggling forestry sector.

“But I also respect other people’s views, but I’m going to continue to make the point that we live in a society where we’re lucky enough to have individual rights — and you either believe in those rights, which is my case, or you find a way around them.

“I’m going to continue to believe in those rights.”

Mulcair continued by acknowledging that the niqab issue is an emotional and sensitive one for some.

“But I also understand that governing is about leading and leading is about setting your priorities and telling people who you are and what you believe in,” he said.

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Meanwhile, recent polls suggest the NDP has seen its support slip in Quebec.

On Friday, Mulcair was also questioned about whether he is disappointed that an issue that affects a only very small number of women seems to have overtaken his campaign, at least in part.

He said the primary issue in the campaign is who will replace Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.

He repeated lines from the debate, accusing Harper of trying to hide his record “behind the niqab” to avoid talking about things like jobs lost since the financial crisis and cuts to federal health transfers to the provinces.

“So, he’s looking for a weapon of mass distraction by continuing to talk about this issue,” Mulcair said.