Edmonton, AB – By virtually the narrowest of margins delegates to the federal New Democratic Party convention in Edmonton have voted against the leadership of Thomas Mulcair and call for a leadership race.

Following one of the most crucial speeches of his political life in which he pitched himself as a fighter for the values of the party and the average Canadian, the 1,500 delegates cast ballots to decide Mulcair’s fate and 52% voted to seek a new leader.  Officially, Mulcair required the support of only 50% plus 1 to win the vote, although the general feeling was that he had to get 70% or better to keep his job.  He had the support of 92% of the delegates to the party’s 2013 convention.

Many in his party have been highly critical of Mulcair’s poor performance in the last federal election, feel he is not connected to the rank-and-file membership and believe it is time for a change.  Organized labour has been divided on the question.  The president of the Canadian Labour Congress, Hassan Yussuff, had publicly and vehemently stated that he absolutely did not support Mulcair as leader.  Six unions affiliated with the CLC however, including CUPE, the United Steelworkers and the United Food and Commercial Workers, came out in support of Mulcair.

The party’s youth wing reflected the split within the rank-and-file membership.  The executive called for a new style of leadership but the members of the Young New Democrats voted not to formally oppose Mulcair’s leadership.

The leader began his speech by clearly stating that mistakes were made that cost the party victory in last October’s federal election “and for that I take full responsibility.”  He said those mistakes must be corrected and added he has renewed optimism for the future.  And he said “one thing is crystal clear, it’s time for us to open up this party to draw on the talent and depth” across the country.  “Sitting on the sidelines is not an option in a Canada where the gap between the wealthy and the rest of us is widening.”

Mulcair said the middle class is being hollowed out as full-time jobs are moved out of the country and are replaced by low-paying, part-time jobs.  He said the corporate elite are being paid 200 times what the average worker is paid and use their stock options to avoid paying their fare share of taxes.  He says “only the NDP will stand up for Canadians who are being left behind in this winner-take-all economy.  That’s why a united NDP is more important than ever.”

Mulcair touched on the usual NDP issues of health care, day care, education, aboriginal issues and the fight for proportional representation.  And he repeatedly stressed standing strong “even when things get tough.”

He did not directly ask delegates to endorse his leadership but in a rousing conclusion told the convention “if you keep standing with me we will never stop fighting, so stand with me to grow our party and strengthen our movement.”  “Canadians are counting on us to fight for them against powerful interests.”

His speech ended, the eligible delegates were asked, “Should the New Democratic Party hold a leadership convention within one year or no?”  52 percent voted yes, they want a new leader.  A subsequent motion from the floor from the United Steelworkers, asking for the one-year period to be extended to 24 months to prepare for the leadership convention, was passed.

Meantime Mulcair says he will continue to work for the party until a new leader is chosen.

With his loss in today’s vote Mulcair becomes the first leader of the federal NDP to be given the boot by the rank-and-file membership. Every other leader in the party’s 50 year history has left at their choosing.

250 News is attempting to contact Skeena-Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen for his reaction to today’s development and will have his comments once contact is made.  Cullen publicly endorsed Mulcair’s leadership heading into the convention in Edmonton.