OTTAWA - The federal NDP caucus is in Montebello, Que., to begin a two-day retreat that will lay out a road map for the next session of Parliament, but is likely to include a hard look at last October's devastating election result.
New Democrats were reduced to just 44 seats and third-party status in the House of Commons after beginning the 11-week campaign with 95 seats, a result that has prompted some questions about Tom Mulcair's leadership.
But speaking Monday on the eve of the caucus retreat, Mulcair fended off questions about his political future, saying he remains fully motivated as leader and is excited to get down to work preparing for the next session of the new Parliament.
Mulcair, who faces a leadership review at the party's April convention in Edmonton, said the NDP is the only party in Canada that systematically gets together every two years to decide whether to revamp its leadership race.
The NDP's constitution calls for a secret ballot at the convention; if more than 50 per cent of the ballots call for new leadership, a vote it must be held within a year.
Mulcair gave no indication of what he might do if he secures less than 50 per cent support from the party's rank-and-file at the convention.
