Mulcair's election went 'according to plan'

Everything went according to plan when the New Democrats elected Thomas Mulcair to the leader's position of the Official Opposition, according to Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault.

Thibeault said he backed Mulcair's bid for leadership from Day 1. To see him win “was pretty exciting times,” he said.

“I'm thrilled, in a sense that I threw my support behind Tom a few months ago,” Thibeault said. “I'm excited at the energy, enthusiasm, intelligence and the dynamics that he brings to the leader's position. It will do us a world of good as New Democrats and as a country, with him at the helm of the Official Opposition.”

Mulcair never dropped from first place on the ballot, Thibeault said. He started off with 30 per cent of the vote on the first ballot, increased to 38 per cent on the second ballot, 44 per cent on the third ballot and 58 per cent on the final ballot.

“You never want to take anything for granted, especially when you need 50 per cent of the vote, but I think after the second vote, where he jumped up to 38 per cent, while no one else had that kind of spike in support, everything went according to plan.”

The first caucus meeting under Mulcair's leadership “was great; it was energized, everyone was enthusiastic, and we're all so proud to be part of this team and have Tom lead us.”

Many media outlets have stated that, with Mulcair at the helm, it will divide the party, and there will be some bridges to build, “but we are a solid team and we are unified,” Thibeault said.

The past year has been a difficult one for the NDP, he said. What started off on May 2, 2011, when the country elected a record number of New Democrats, changed when Jack Layton stepped down and then died, Thibeault said.

“To do what we have and stay where we are in the polls is an accomplishment, and we will continue to work as hard as we have and bring forward what we think is the right agenda for the Canadian people.”

The Conservative government is set to release its federal budget on March 29 at 4 p.m. Thibeault said he looks forward to going through the document.

Posted by Arron Pickard