Mulcair vows to scrap TPP deal if elected

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said if elected, he would scrap the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

“I would never bring this deal to the Canadian Parliament,” he told Global’s Liza Fromer and Jeff McArthur on The Morning Show on Thursday.

READ MORE: Harper to tout TPP today, Justin Trudeau in Montreal, Mulcair in BC

Though the details of the TPP aren’t public, the NDP leader said he has been “more than briefed enough on it to know it’ll cost tens of thousands of Canadian families their jobs.”

He told Global News the deal will increase prescription drug prices, affecting seniors across the country.

“They (seniors) already have to decide between buying their prescription drugs and putting food on the table and that’s not on as far as the NDP is concerned.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They (seniors) already have to decide between buying their prescription drugs and putting food on the table and that's not on as far as the NDP is concerned."

Mulcair also praised US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for opposing the deal as well.

When asked about his recent drop in the polls, Mulcair remained optimistic about his chances to win the election.

“I still keep on my desk in Ottawa the polls from the last election campaign that showed that the NDP was in fourth place in Quebec, and as you know it didn’t quite turn out that way,” he said. “There’s still 10 days left in this campaign.”

Mulcair: The Niqab is a distraction

Another hot-button issue during the campaign is whether or not the niqab should be worn during citizenship ceremonies. Mulcair remained firm in his stance that the niqab is merely a distraction.

“I’m not going to let Stephen Harper to use that … to hide his record,” he said.

The Conservatives have pushed for a ban on wearing the niqab in citizenship ceremonies, and Stephen Harper said if re-elected, he would look at legislation to ban niqabs or face coverings in the public service. Like Mulcair, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has also argued that the tories are using the issue to “distract and deflect” Canadians from economic issues.

REALITY CHECK: Zunera Ishaq says niqab should not be an election issue

Mulcair said he won’t change his opinion despite a loss of support in Quebec because of the issue.

“That’s the politics of principle, as opposed to the politics of fear,” he argued.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "That's the politics of principle, as opposed to the politics of fear," he argued.