Mulcair: I’m the only federal leader who can vote in Quebec
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair. (Canadian Press)
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair bragged Sunday that he was the only major party leader federally who could vote in the Quebec election today.
“You’d have to be a resident in Quebec to be able to vote. I’m allowed to vote,” Mr. Mulcair said, according to the Canadian Press. “(Being a Quebec resident) gives me the ability to talk about it concretely and have meaning to it.”
His comment was a shot at Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who represents a Montreal riding but recently moved to Ottawa.
“Mr. Trudeau lives in Ottawa in order to be closer to his family,” Trudeau spokeswoman Kate Purchase told the Canadian Press. “Contrary to the two other leaders, he does not have a paid residence in Ottawa.”
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper lives in the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive, while Mr. Mulcair lives at the opposition leader’s residence Stornoway.
The Bloc Québécois, which currently has four Members of Parliament, has been without a permanent leader since December.
UPDATE: On Monday morning, the federal Liberals sent out an attack of their own. “In light of the importance of today’s election in Quebec, it is incumbent on NDP leader Thomas Mulcair to confirm that all his Quebec MPs support federalist parties in this crucial election,” Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia said in a statement. Mr. Scarpaleggia represents the Quebec riding of Lac-Saint-Louis.
“I am pleased to confirm that all members of the federal Quebec Liberal Caucus unequivocally support a federalist party in this campaign.”
— Chris Hannay, digital politics editor