Federal NDP could face time of trial

April 12, 2016.

The party that ran the most Indigenous candidates ever in a federal election could be facing a tough time.

Cameron Alexis, former Alberta Regional Chief with the Assembly of First Nation and New Democratic Party candidate in Peace River-Westlock, says the party has to be concerned about what could be a divisive time as the controversial Leap Manifesto is discussed further and a new leader is selected.

“I would suggest … it is going to be a rough time. At the end of the day the party is still going to come together but obviously it’s quite evident there is some division over it already,” said Alexis.

A new leader will have to be able to unite the party and at the same time has to be able to compete against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has done a “commendable job,” says Alexis.

“We have to present a leader who knows all the issues, is prepared to debate, much like Mr. Mulcair, and be very positive…. The leader has to have total energy to lead a party that perhaps is starting to split a little bit,” said Alexis. “I believe the NDP has its place in this country and I really hope that we get a leader who is very strong.”

On the weekend in a convention held in Edmonton, NDP delegates chose not to endorse Thomas Mulcair moving forward. Mulcair garnered 48 per cent of the vote. He is the first NDP leader to be pushed out by the party.

Alexis, who was unable to attend the convention, says he was surprised at the weekend’s outcome.

“I was a politician in those 10 years and I watched (Mulcair), met with him, and he did a commendable job holding Mr. Harper to account although (Harper) had a majority government,” said Alexis.

Alexis, who is now CEO of the North Peace Tribal Council, credits Mulcair in enticing him to run under the NDP banner in the 2015 election.

“I watched (Mulcair) many times in the House of Commons and he was steadfast in his position when the Chiefs reached out to him to set forth his position in the House in issues relating to First Nations, which Mr. Harper tried to push many times over with a multitude of bills,” said Alexis.

He adds that Mulcair’s passion for the environment and for people, whether they be elderly, veterans or children, drew many Indigenous people to the NDP. In 2015, the NDP ran 22 Indigenous candidates, while the Liberals had 18, the Green Party 10 and the Conservatives only four. Of Alberta’s seven Indigenous candidates, six ran under the NDP banner.

“Mr. Mulcair had the highest Aboriginal members running for parliament in the history of Canada. He can take that with him,” said Alexis.

Alexis is not concerned that without Mulcair at the helm the NDP will no longer attract Indigenous candidates or push Indigenous issues. He points to the Indigenous rights champions MPs Romeo Saganash, Georgina Jolibois and Niki Ashton, as well as “people in the background. I believe we have a good core.”

But even with those accomplishments, Mulcair fell to his party members. Under Layton in 2011, the NDP formed the official opposition. But after the 2015 election, the NDP dropped to third party status with only 44 seats. Alexis blames the longest ever federal election campaign along with the party’s unpopular decisions on a number of issues.

“Unfortunately when you have these kinds of things that go on, somebody has to pay the piper and in this case, it’s Mr. Mulcair,” said Alexis. “The people spoke and it has to be accepted.”

“The membership's desire for change and renewal has been heard,” said NDP National Director Karl Bélanger in a statement. “In the months ahead, we will work tirelessly with our members to renew, rebuild, and strengthen this great party of ours.”

The party has given itself up to two years to select a new leader. Mulcair says he will stay on until that time.