NDP approval takes a nosedive

A recent poll by Corporate Research Associates shows the provincial NDP taking a steep dive in voter approval ratings, and party leader Lorraine Michael blames defecting MHAs Dale Kirby and Christopher Mitchelmore for the sudden change in public opinion.

But columnist Russell Wangersky said that's not exactly true.

"What the heck else can she say? Realistically, the only thing she can do is portion the blame outside the party," Wangersky said.

"The fact of the matter is the split and the way it was handled that is probably doing the most damage because it's taken them from a sort of a possibility-in-waiting to everyone's last choice."

Former Liberal MP Siobhan Coady said blaming Mitchelmore and Kirby won't serve the party.

"Now that she's blamed them, now she's furthered the split and divide [within the party]," Coady said.

"You have other members of the NDP resigning their memberships within the NDP - this is now a split within the party, this is not just one or two people saying, 'Okay, I can't work with you.'"

The Telegram's James McLeod said Michael blaming Kirby and Mitchelmore for the party's sudden declining popularity will only hurt the party more.

"The fact that he [Kirby] and Mitchelmore are being thrown under the bus so completely is really turning a lot of other people off that might have been more forgiving," McLeod said.

McLeod, Wangersky and Coady were on the panel for this week's On Point with David Cochrane.