Not Too Likely, Chums

Well, it's over and done with. The NDP leadership convention in all its vibrant excitement, theatrics and boasts, a thing of the past. The goal was to elect a leader capable of impressing voting Canadians who might wish to change their allegiance in the glow of expectations for the future. The question was who had the feet that would fit that footwear left by the previous leader?

Ottawa MP Paul Dewar thought he could comfortably fit into those shoes, but the opportunity was whisked out from under his feet. Life's like that. But he did run a 'fantastic campaign', in so doing allowing as how he 'touched' many people. If he does say so himself. He also claims to have 'shooked' a whole lot of hands, at the NDP leadership convention. So he's all shooked up.

Perhaps not quite pleasurably. From the photos he looks rather grim. Just like those delegates that he thrilled with the vibrancy of his speech, to listen and applaud and then park their damn votes elsewhere. After putting himself out as he did, going to the vast trouble of learning French, imposing his presence intimately on his one-on-one French teacher's family over Christmas.

We're left to wonder if this former teacher, expressing himself through a rather challenged and limited vocabulary in English, might have done such a bang-up job in the teaching profession that their loss is Parliament's gain. How do we expect Canadian kids to learn a second language when a determined member of the teaching profession is so groaningly inept at both official languages?

right,

Newly elected New Democratic Party leader Thomas Mulcair, right, celebrates with fellow leadership candidate Brian Topp at the NDP Leadership Convention in Toronto Saturday, March 24, 2012. Photograph by: Darren Calabrese, National Post

Wouldn't you know, an upstart would win. "It's over and we have a new leader. I'm very proud to support him. He's going to be an excellent leader." No, it wasn't Paul Dewar who said that, it was Brian Topp. Very conciliatory. Despite that none but Martin Singh actually endorsed Mr. Mulcair as second choice initially. It would seem that the NDP establishment is none too thrilled at the leadership choice of the membership.

But that's the way things go; awry, whenever they can. Just like mischief makers were giving the convention a hard time, 'jamming up' the computer system. Mightn't have been the contractor for the Internet vote collection was having a hard time with their own system; the NDP has to nudge at sinister dark forces at play - to give us a hint of things to come in the House, where the Conservatives will be accused of all manner of dastardly influences.

It will be a lively time, though. Where Thomas Mulcair can demonstrate and prove his mettle as a rabble rouser. "As we unite our party to take on a government that is dismantling the very institutions that we hold dear, we will do so without excluding or demonizing those who disagree with us." Take that. With a baby-strength Aspirin. And wait for the demonizing to flourish.

And, of course, party unity above all. So Thomas Mulcair, who has had ample experience as an MP, and as a Liberal Quebec Cabinet Minister who later played touchy-feely with the Conservatives before settling on the NDP will lead the party to victory. As Ontario MP Charlie Angus said, his second support finally went to Mulcair because he believes he can beat Stephen Harper and become prime minister.

Without wincing, can we just see the NDP taking the reins of government and managing its economy? Our economy; our tax-extracted dollars.

And then there's the little matter of the NDP's well developed position vis-a-vis Quebec's expectations and demands. Not to mention Alberta oil extraction; a dirty affair that enables Quebec to offer provincial day care at $7 a day, the lowest university tuition in the country and a host of other very nice tidbits. Defying the Supreme Court by asserting 50+1 will do for a separation vote.

Taking the NDP in a brave new direction, to appeal to a larger audience. The initial move; announcing Libby Davies as deputy leader. Good luck on that one. Some brave new move that is. But then, there's always additional appointments to various posts of his leadership rivals. All of which should prove immensely entertaining.

Still, the focus is on Quebec and the NDP and those French language laws in federally regulated workplaces. Pleasing Quebec mightily, and perhaps ensuring continued growth there for the NDP, but the rest of Canada? Hmm, not too likely, chums. See, once it was comrades, now it's chums, short for chumps.