NDP Plots Final House Session, 'Ambitious' Campaign Ahead

The federal New Democrats gathered on Parliament Hill Thursday to discuss their strategy for the upcoming session in the House of Commons, which could be the party's last as Official Opposition.

With an election due by mid-October, polls have suggested the NDP is running a close third place with the Liberals in front and the Conservatives second.

A Dec. 24 Ipsos poll found that while the NDP's Thomas Mulcair is seen as the best leader, the Liberals were the most popular choice for government.

In an address to party members on Parliament Hill, the first since the Christmas break, Mulcair insisted the party's federal election campaign will be the most "ambitious" and "well-resourced" in NDP history.

"I couldn't wait to get back to work to take on the challenges facing Canadians," Mulcair told a room of NDP MPs, according to a transcript of the speech made available.

"And over the next two days, we're going to be discussing those challenges including jobs, the economy and the crisis facing our veterans."

He also said speaking up for the middle class will be a priority in the House and that he will be making policy announcements during the coming weeks.

Expect attack on foreign worker program

Jinny Sims, NDP critic for employment and social development, said childcare and minimum wage laws will be issues she intends to hit this session, with an emphasis on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Sims said, for example, a new arena in Edmonton is going to be built using temporary foreign workers, rather than locals.

"That's outrageous. I know, I've been in that community, I've talk to skilled people who've got the skill set; they didn't get the contract," Sims said.

She also pointed out that announced closures of Target stores in Canada, as well as the currently tenuous fate of the oilsands as gas prices plummet, are sure to affect workers.

The situation in Alberta prompted the Conservative government to announce Thursday it would delay its budget until April because of uncertainty around the oil price drop.

Terrorism position won't change

It appears the NDP will stay the course on its approach to terrorism, even though its stance on fighting the Islamic State is a regular topic of ridicule by the governing Conservatives.

The NDP and Liberals voted against Canada joining the allied attacks on ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq last autumn.

Mulcair has also been criticized by opponents for not calling the attacks on Canadian soldiers in Quebec and Ottawa last October terrorism. He instead suggested the killings of Nathan Cirillo and Patrice Vincent were related to the mental health issues of the attackers.

Sims said that approach won't change.

"There isn't a person in this caucus who supports terrorism," Sims said. "We want to ensure safety for Canadians, but we also want to protect civil liberties. It's not one or the other."