Tom Mulcair, the fiery former NDP Opposition Leader who carried his party after Jack Layton鈥檚 untimely death but ultimately lost the 2015 election to Justin Trudeau鈥檚 Liberals, offered optimistic parting words on his last day in the House of Commons.
In his final speech on Thursday, Mulcair thanked his family, his staff and Layton, who he credits with the party鈥檚 historic 鈥淥range Wave鈥� in the 2011 election.
鈥淛ack knew that making inroads in Quebec was essential for the NDP to be considered a national party. And he would be so proud to know today that he has such a solid, seasoned team with 16 members from Quebec in this chamber,鈥� he said.
Politicians from every political party praised Mulcair, describing him as a leader of integrity whose tough, rapid-fire questions -- particularly during the Stephen Harper era -- helped speak truth to power.
In his speech, Mulcair alluded to the uncertain state of global politics and urged Canada to uphold its place as an international leader of democratic values.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all keenly aware that no one can take anything for granted in today鈥檚 world,鈥� Mulcair said. 鈥淒emocracy needs champions, and Canada should be one of those champions.鈥�
In an interview with CTV鈥檚 Power Play, Mulcair explained that his message wasn鈥檛 just about U.S. President Donald Trump. He said China continues to censor its history, including the violent uprising at Tiananmen Square, and he described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a 鈥渄angerous鈥� troublemaker who has 鈥渘o real intention鈥� of bringing democracy to his country.
鈥淪o sure, I鈥檓 worried about the United States, but I鈥檓 not worried about them long-term because they鈥檙e much more than Donald Trump and they always will be. But I am worried around the world, and I think Canada should be playing a more active role fighting for democracy.鈥�
Mulcair served as MP for the Montreal riding of Outremont since a 2007 byelection. The seat was long considered a Liberal stronghold, but Mulcair won it three more times. A lawyer by trade, Mulcair entered Quebec provincial politics in 1994 as a Liberal member of the National Assembly.
Looking back on his storied career, Mulcair said his biggest achievement was enacting Quebec鈥檚 Sustainable Development Plan, a progressive piece of legislation in 2006 that gave Quebecers the legal right to live in a clean environment.
鈥淭he courts have done great things with that, and I鈥檓 very, very proud of that,鈥� he said.
Mulcair earned the nickname 鈥淎ngry Tom鈥� for his spitfire, inquisitional approach as Opposition Leader in the NDP. It鈥檚 a reputation Mulcair embraced; one year, he dressed up as a bird from the game 鈥淎ngry Birds鈥� when he took his grandkids trick-or-treating.
In question period, Mulcair鈥檚 questions were often aggressive and to the point -- a tactic he suggests other MPs copy.
鈥淭he shorter the question, the less there is to latch onto. If you give a 30-second question with four or five subparts, the person you鈥檙e asking it to can just grab one of those parts, and if they mumble some prepared line, nobody鈥檚 going to hold it against them,鈥� he said.
Asked if he preferred sparring with Harper or Trudeau, Mulcair didn鈥檛 hesitate.
鈥淥h, Harper by a country mile. He was tough -- and fun.鈥�
At a French-language debate during the 2015 election campaign, Mulcair sparred with Harper over whether or not women should be allowed to wear niqabs during citizenship ceremonies. Harper stood behind banning the garment, while Mulcair accused Harper of playing 鈥渁 dangerous game.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 not by depriving these women of their citizenship and their right that you鈥檙e going to help them,鈥� Mulcair said at the time.
The issue was particularly divisive in Quebec, and the NDP saw an immediate slump in the polls following the debate.
Mulcair admits that it was a turning point in the election.
鈥淚 knew it was going to cost us seats. And it was interesting because that鈥檚 the way a campaign works. You have time to talk to some of your senior people, and it was fascinating to talk to people even in downtown Toronto saying look, this is the lay of the land, this is the position we鈥檙e going to take, this is the probable result. And their strength and their integrity was inspiring, because they said don鈥檛 back down, that鈥檚 us, those are our principles.鈥�
Former Ontario MPP Jagmeet Singh replaced Mulcair as federal NDP leader last fall. Singh has been criticized for his relatively low profile on Parliament Hill, where he does not hold an elected seat in the House of Commons.
Mulcair said there are rumblings that Singh may run for a byelection in B.C., which he suggested would be wise.
鈥淚 think that Canadians have to get to know him better. He鈥檚 got tremendous personal qualities, he鈥檚 very charismatic, he鈥檚 very telegenic. And he鈥檚 smart. He grasps stuff quickly. But people just don鈥檛 get to see him.鈥�
Asked if he鈥檇 offer any pointers for Singh, Mulcair joked that he鈥檚 not 鈥渉is mother-in-law,鈥� but said 鈥渋f he does call me for advice, I鈥檒l be glad to help him.鈥�
Mulcair is leaving politics to enter a career in academia. He will join the political science department at the Universitie de Montreal, where he will teach students in a new master of environment and sustainable development program.
What his colleagues said
Politicians from across the aisle celebrated Muclair鈥檚 last day with speeches that touched on his accomplishments, his character, and, of course, his beard.
Conservative MP Lisa Raitt said Muclair served his constituents with 鈥渄ignity and respect.鈥�
鈥淗is most lasting contribution, the moment at which he truly changed this Parliament for future generations, is when he had the courage to stand for what he believed in, speak truth to power, to do politics differently, and refuse to shave ever,鈥� she said.
鈥淒are I say it, that not since Abraham Lincoln have such wonderful whiskers become so entwined with a political personality.鈥�
On a more serious note, Raitt said Mulcair earned a reputation for holding other politicians 鈥� Conservatives in particular 鈥� to account.
鈥淎nd while the member proved how skilled he was in the House of Commons, mainly at the expense of my former government, that鈥檚 not my lasting memory. For me, I will always remember the member for two things: his humour, and his humanity.鈥�
Minister of Transport Marc Garneau thanked Mulcair for 鈥渉is profound dedication and service to our country.鈥�
鈥淭his individual has made a remarkable impact on the lives of Canadians, particularly in Quebec, and has challenged governments to strive to ensure that every Canadian has an opportunity to succeed. There is no doubt that we are all the stronger for it,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 feel like it might even be a little bit quiet after his departure,鈥� he joked.
NDP MP Guy Caron praised Mulcair鈥檚 ability to connect with everyday people and make them feel 鈥渘ot only that he understands them, but that he will fight for them. And fight he did.鈥�
鈥淗is prosecution day after day after day of the Stephen Harper government has been a hallmark of Parliamentary history,鈥� Caron said.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said that 鈥渢he bravest thing we ever saw鈥� was Mulcair鈥檚 famous answer on the niqab during the French-language debate.
鈥淎nd I want to thank the honourable member again for taking a strong stand on the very divisive niqab debate.鈥�
