The New Democrats may be stripped of their official opposition status in the House, but they’re intent to cling onto a remnant of their former title.
In a Friday press release, the party announced its intention to form a “robust Progressive Opposition” to prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government.
“Canadians know they can count on New Democrats to push the Liberals to work harder against climate change, to keep their word on democratic reform and to finally establish a nation-to nation relationship with the First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples of Canada,” NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair said.
The party also announced several changes to its own internal makeup.
Former NDP MP Paul Dewar was named the party’s senior transition adviser tasked to advise Mulcair on staffing and shadow cabinet reorganization.
Mulcair’s chief of staff Alain Gaul is also set to leave, the NDP confirmed. The Montreal lawyer was hired at the beginning of the year to “add some muscle” to the party ahead of the election.
He will remain with the NDP during the transition period. Current deputy chief of staff Steve Moran will step up and temporarily hold Gual’s position.
On Thursday, Mulcair told The Canadian Press that he will set up a committee of between four to six people, including defeated MPs, to examine where the NDP went wrong with the campaign.
Earlier this week, one of the party’s defeated stalwarts suggested the federal party change its name by dropping “new.”
Former Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer made the suggestion, also arguing it’s due time to change the automatic federal membership given someone who joins the provincial NDPs.
“We need to break that sort of string that ties us both together ... We're the only party that does that,” he said. “I've been asking for many, many years now to change it and I think it's time we did that.”
Trudeau is slated to be sworn in as Canada’s 23rd prime minister on Tuesday. Conservatives will become the Official Opposition and are set to pick a new interim leader next week to replace Stephen Harper.
With files from The Canadian Press
Key NDP MPs Defeated In 2015 Election
(01 of24)
Open Image ModalIn the 2015 federal election, Thomas Mulcair's New Democrats fell from 95 seats to 44. And several high-profile incumbents from across the country were defeated, usually to Liberal candidates.Here are a few key names that will not be returning to Ottawa... (credit:Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)
Paul Dewar(02 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 2006Riding: Ottawa CentreShadow cabinet role: Foreign affairsDewar also ran for the leadership of the party in 2012. (credit:CP)
Megan Leslie(03 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 2008Riding: HalifaxShadow cabinet role: Deputy leader, environment (credit:CP)
Peter Stoffer(04 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 1997Riding: Sackville—Eastern Shore (N.S.)Shadow cabinet role: Veterans affairsStoffer was named Maclean's magazines Parliamentarian of the year in 2013 and frequently won the most congenial MP award. (credit:CP)
Jack Harris(05 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 2008Riding: St. John's EastShadow cabinet role: National defenceHarris was also the longtime leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party. (credit:CP)
Nycole Turmel(06 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 2011Riding: Hull—AylmerShadow cabinet role: Opposition whipTurmel served as interim NDP leader after Jack Layton stepped down to battle cancer. She was leader of the Official Opposition from August, 2011, to March, 2012. (credit:The Canadian Press)
Craig Scott(07 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 2012Riding: Toronto DanforthShadow cabinet role: Democratic and parliamentary reformScott represented the Toronto riding held by former leader Jack Layton. (credit:CP)
Malcolm Allen(08 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 2008Riding: WellandShadow cabinet role: Agriculture and Agri-Food (credit:CP)
Françoise Boivin(09 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 2011 (though she served from 2004-2006 as a Liberal MP)Riding: GatineauShadow cabinet role: Justice (credit:CP)
Robert Chisholm(10 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 2011Riding: Halifax AtlanticShadow cabinet role: Fisheries, deputy employment insuranceChisholm served as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party and ran for the federal leadership in 2012. (credit:CP)
Ryan Cleary(11 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 2011Riding: St. John's South—Mount PearlShadow cabinet role: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (credit:CP)
Jinny Sims(12 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 2011Riding: Newton—North DeltaShadow cabinet role: Employment and Social Development (credit:CP)
Pat Martin(13 of24)
Open Image ModalFirst elected: 1997Riding: Winnipeg CentreShadow cabinet role: Public Works and Government ServicesMartin is perhaps the most quotable politician in Canada. (credit:CP)
(14 of24)
Open Image ModalThough Stephen Harper was re-elected in his Calgary riding in the 2015 federal election, many members of his cabinet went down in defeat.Here are some key figures from Harper's inner circle who will not be returning to Ottawa... (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
Chris Alexander(15 of24)
Open Image ModalCabinet position: Minister of citizenship and immigrationRiding: AjaxFirst elected: 2011 (credit:Aaron Vincent Elkaim/CP)
Joe Oliver(16 of24)
Open Image ModalCabinet position: Minister of financeRiding: Eglinton-Lawrence (Toronto)First elected: 2011Oliver also previously served as minister of natural resources (credit:Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Bernard Valcourt(17 of24)
Open Image ModalCabinet position: Minister of aboriginal affairsRiding: Madawaska—Restigouche (N.B.)First elected: 2011 (though he was a Progressive Conservative MP from 1984 to 1993). (credit:Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Julian Fantino(18 of24)
Open Image ModalCabinet position: Associate defence ministerRiding: VaughanFirst elected: 2010Fantino is probably better remembered for his controversial tenure as minister of veterans affairs. (credit:Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Leona Aglukkaq(19 of24)
Open Image ModalCabinet position: Minister of the environmentRiding: NunavutFirst elected: 2008Aglukkaq previously served as minister of health, and was the first Inuk in Canadian history named to federal cabinet. (credit:The Canadian Press)
Greg Rickford(20 of24)
Open Image ModalCabinet position: Minister of natural resourcesRiding: KenoraFirst elected: 2008Rickford previously served as minister of state for science and technology. (credit:Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Gail Shea(21 of24)
Open Image ModalCabinet position: Minister of fisheries and oceansRiding: Egmont (P.E.I.)First elected: 2008 (credit:Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Tim Uppal(22 of24)
Open Image ModalCabinet position: Minister of state for multiculturalismRiding: Edmonton—Sherwood Park First elected: 2008Uppal also previously served as minister of state for democratic reform. (credit:Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Ed Holder(23 of24)
Open Image ModalCabinet position: Minister of state for science and technologyRiding: London WestFirst elected: 2008 (credit:Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
John Duncan(24 of24)
Open Image ModalCabinet position: Chief government whipRiding: Vancouver Island NorthFirst elected: 2008 (though he also served as an MP from 1993 to 2006).Duncan previously served as minister of aboriginal affairs. (credit:Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press)