Mulcair dismisses talk of distant finish, focused on becoming prime minister

BURNABY, B.C. – NDP Leader Tom Mulcair isn’t having any talk of second or third place, insisting that after Canadians visit the ballot box Monday, he’ll be on his way to 24 Sussex Drive.

Campaigning in Burnaby, B.C., as he makes his way to Vancouver for a rally later today, Mulcair was asked repeatedly about what the NDP strategy would be if his party is unable to form a government.

He insisted – as he has done from the outset – that his sole focus was defeating and unseating the Conservatives.

“My job as leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, is to take on Stephen Harper, to defeat him on Monday, Oct. 19, and replace him with an NDP government,” Mulcair said.

“That’s my only priority between now and Monday.”

WATCH: Mulcair campaigns in B.C.

He also repeated his message that the election remains a three-way race, and Canadian voters fed up with being forced to choose between either the Liberals and the Conservatives has another choice this time around.

“This time there is a three-way race; this time there is hope,”Mulcair said. “This time we will put in an NDP government.”

Mulcair was also asked how long he thought would be appropriate for whichever party does achieve a plurality of seats Monday to wait before meeting Parliament.

He said the winner – him, of course – would have an obligation to do so “very rapidly.”

Given that both the NDP and the Liberals have made it clear they would not support a Harper government, speculation has been rampant that a Conservative minority win would likely mean a long delay before the House of Commons resumed.

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