The New Democrats have chosen Thomas Mulcair as their new leader, positioning the party to shore up support in Quebec, according to one SFU pundit.
"I think it was a smart choice on the part of the NDP," said Doug McArthur, an SFU professor of public policy. "They've built this new base in Quebec, and obviously they have to consolidate that if they want to move on and become government. I would say Mulcair is clearly the best leader to consolidate the base in Quebec."
McArthur said Mulcair "seems very intelligent and knows policy very well," and he has a combative style that would seem best suited to take on Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Mulcair was a provincial Liberal politician in Quebec before he moved on to federal politics as a New Democrat. Mulcair is also hoping to garner more of the centrist vote, McArthur said.
"He wants to bring the centre voters to the NDP," McArthur said. "I think that's one of the reasons he got so much support."
New Westminster Conservative Paul Forseth also commented on Mulcair's French connection but was less than confident in his governing abilities.
"I think he's very Quebec-oriented. I've observed him on TV broadcasts over the last couple of years, and he appears to be very aggressive, never missing to score a political point," said Forseth, who ran as a Conservative in the last federal election for Burnaby-New Westminster. "The official Opposition (needs to) present a team that's competent to govern, because they are technically the government in waiting. I don't think Mr. Mulcair is prime minister material."
Forseth characterized Mulcair as a "salesman first."
"We really don't know the real man. He will say or do anything for the advantage of his perceived audience. I don't think we can really trust anything he says," Forseth said.
Some Burnaby city councillors voted for Mulcair, but Mayor Derek Corrigan and Burnaby's provincial and federal NDP politicians supported Brian Topp, who wanted the NDP to stay more to the left rather than move to the centre.
