Thomas Mulcair is calling the proposed amendments to the Fair Elections Act, unexpectedly announced by Pierre Poilievre last Friday, a result of the New Democrats fighting “tooth and nail” against the controversial bill.

In a speech delivered the the NDP caucus the morning MPs returned to the Hill after a two-week break, Mulcair took shots at both the Conservatives — for what he said is an attempt to rig the next election with the bill — and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau — for being “missing in action” in the debate for weeks.

The government, Mulcair said, is “more interested in their own partisan interests than in your fundamental right to vote. That’s why New Democrats have been fighting the Unfair Elections Act at every turn.”

And “while the NDP was fighting this bill… the Liberal leader decided to play hookie,” he said. “Well, that’s simply not good enough.”

The Fair Elections Act has received a torrent of criticism since it was first tabled in Parliament, with experts, academics and advocacy groups characterizing the legislation as anti-democratic and many scratching their heads about how and why such a problematic bill could be drafted.

The NDP — led by democratic reform critic Craig Scott, and with MPs Alexandrine Latendresse and David Christopherson, who sit on the procedure and House affairs committee — refused to let the bill pass without a fight, and kept at it in committee and in the House of Commons.

Mulcair lauded his team’s work, noting that the party has asked 256 questions related to Bill C-23 in the House.

Earlier this month, Mulcair said the Fair Elections Act is an issue for the next federal election, and Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre’s proposed amendments — which have been applauded by many as improvements — last week could be seen as letting the air out of the party’s tires.

But for the NDP, those proposed amendments aren’t enough.

Introducing Mulcair to the group gathered in the Reading Room on Parliament Hill, Craig Scott said there’s still much work to be done at committee to build on those proposed amendments and make the bill a lot more fair.

Mulcair agreed and said he’s ready and willing to sit down with the prime minister to make it so.

“I have a message for Stephen Harper,” Mulcair said. “If you’re serious about consulting, if you’re serious about listening, if you’re serious about working together to strengthen our democracy, the New Democrats are ready to work with you to make that happen.”

“And I’m convinced, Mr. Harper, that if you’re serious, you’ll find that Mr. Trudeau, M. Fortin and Ms. May will be there as well,” he said.