Federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair's job is the hot topic at the party's convention this weekend in Edmonton, but local New Democrats feel there are more important issues to tackle.
The party has a bit of soul searching to do according to Brian Sharp, the vice-president of the NDP Chatham-Kent-Leamington riding association.
"There's going to be some intense discussion about what kind of party we want to be, what our issues are and what we want to do going forward," says Sharp.
He isn't in the camp of New Democrats eager to see a new leader and thinks Mulcair will get the support he needs to stay on.
"I'm not convinced he was the architect of the [ 2015 federal election] campaign," says Sharp, more critical of the team handling Mulcair. "They're trying to make Tom into something he's not. I think he should have been the way he is in Parliament."
Sharp is one of what appears to be many party members in southwestern Ontario who support Mulcair.
"I tend to be on the same side of the people who think Tom [Mulcair] is necessary for our party," says Dan Gelinas, the NDP candidate in the then named Chatham-Kent-Essex riding in the most recent provincial election.
Gelinas feels most NDP members in the region are in favour of seeing Mulcair stay on as party leader.
"Definitely, I believe the ridings from London down that are New Democratic are all in favour of Tom," says Gelinas.
He doesn't see the election results as a poor reflection on the current federal party leader.
"That blame to me lies on the war room people. The people that were guiding him during the campaign," says Gelinas. "They didn't let him be Tom. When Tom is Tom, no one can touch him."
Another NDP source speaking to BlackburnNews.com on condition of anonymity felt a leadership campaign would allow the Liberals to govern unchallenged with the Conservative party also searching for a new leader.
The source would go on to suggest the NDP needs to decide if it will be a party of conscience or a strong contender for government.
The NDP's convention in Edmonton wraps on Sunday.
