Canada election 2015: NDP's Tom Mulcair says he'll maintain 'positive' campaign
Mulcair honours late NDP leader Jack Layton on 4th anniversary of death
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair paid homage to his predecessor Jack Layton, promised to maintain a "positive" campaign and reiterated some of his promises while campaigning near Montreal on Saturday.
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Mulcair spoke to supporters in Saint-Jérôme on the fourth anniversary of Layton's death and said his party would "continue the message of hope," referring to Layton's last letter to Canadians, dated two days before he died, at age 61, after a battle with cancer.
He also posted tributes on Facebook and Twitter, saying, "Four years ago, we lost our friend Jack. Let's finish what he started. Don't let them tell you it can't be done."
In the federal election held on May 2, 2011, Layton led the NDP as it won 103 seats in the House of Commons, shattering the party's old record and becoming the country's Official Opposition.
Four years ago, we lost our friend Jack. Let's finish what he started. Don't let them tell you it can't be done. —TM <a href="http://t.co/KHQCjQ5vB7">pic.twitter.com/KHQCjQ5vB7</a>
—@ThomasMulcairAfter a break in Saturday's event, Mulcair took questions from reporters and commented on the Conservatives' attack ads, saying they are a "sign their campaign is not going well."
"We will run a positive campaign and let the others attack us if they want, he said. "The Conservatives are making desperate attacks against us. We have a positive vision of what we can accomplish."
Mulcair repeated an NDP promise to introduce a "federal minimum wage" that pays $15 an hour, as well as a plan to raise corporate taxes while lowering taxes for small businesses.
He said his party would make it a "priority" to introduce a program to increase the amount of regulated daycare spots.
"Having a national daycare program like the one in Quebec would be a good thing," he said.
Mulcair was speaking on the third weekend of the federal election campaign ahead of the Oct. 19 vote.
Other party leaders with campaign appearances scheduled Saturday are Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe, with five stops in Quebec, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who has two stops in British Columbia.