Dominic Cardy distances N.B. NDP from Leap Manifesto

NDP Leader Dominic Cardy is distancing his New Brunswick party from any shift to the left embraced Leap Manifeso that was supported by the federal party at the weekend convention in Edmonton.

The Leap Manifesto proposes Canada immediately start moving away from fossil fuels and stop building new projects like pipelines.

• Rachel Notley calls Leap Manifesto 'naive' and 'ill-informed' 
• NDP brothers and sisters left between a manifesto and a premier 
• Leap Manifesto: NDP agrees to explore staunch stance on fossil fuels

The manifesto, which has been championed by Toronto filmmaker Avi Lewis, has been derided as "naïve," "ill-informed" and "tone-deaf" by Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.

Cardy, who did not travel to the Edmonton convention, said on Monday that he was firmly ensconced in Notley's side of the debate over the Leap Manifesto.

"It was pretty nicely spelled out by Rachel Notley, the Alberta NDP has a plan on how to govern using NDP principles," Cardy said in an interview with CBC's Harry Forestell.

"The federal NDP unfortunately plans to spend the next two years talking about the Leap Manifesto dreamed up in a downtown Toronto coffee shop that actually was introduced during the election campaign — and actually threw off the NDP's election campaign.

"The New Brunswick NDP is firmly onside with Rachel Notley's plan to make Canada work."

The Leap Manifesto will be discussed at NDP riding associations across the country over the next two years.

One of the many contentious elements contained in the document revolves around the construction of new pipelines.

TransCanada Corporation's proposed Energy East pipeline would allow oil to be sent from Alberta to New Brunswick. Notley has been holding rallies in Alberta in support of the pipeline.

Cardy points out the project is also backed by his party in New Brunswick.

"The New Brunswick NDP has been very clearly in favour of responsible and environmentally safe development of natural resources, including the pipeline," he said.

Before the Edmonton convention began, Cardy said he was concerned the party would shift too far to the left and endorse the Leap Manifesto.

Cardy said it "would be a serious mistake" to do that.