VANCOUVER – Tom Mulcair criticized the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal and emphasized New Democrat roots in one of his first public speeches to supporters since being demoted to a federal third-party leader.
Mulcair told the Canadian Union of Public Employee’s national convention in Vancouver that his party will be a strong, progressive opposition and hold the federal Liberal government to account.
Some of Mulcair’s election promises, including a plan not to run a deficit, met with criticism from some party members for straying from traditionally New Democrat values.
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But Mulcair told the crowd that he’s proud of the principled campaign his party ran, despite the results which saw the caucus dwindle to 44 members.
Mulcair told the group that Canadians deserve to know all the specifics the TPP deal and noted that the agreement may cost thousands of manufacturing jobs.
Just before he was given a standing ovation from union members, Mulcair promised the NDP would fight to protect their jobs and make sure there is money available for health care.
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