Winnipeg Centre MP Leah Gazan says she's unfazed by the potentially daunting workload that comes with the NDP's reduced numbers.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
From the far back corner of the House of Commons, New Democrat MPs Leah Gazan and Lori Idlout asked two questions at the very end of Thursday’s Question Period – just over a quarter of the party’s allotment per week.
As the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois took turns sparring with the Liberals, Ms. Gazan and Ms. Idlout bid their time by chatting with colleagues, including Interim Leader Don Davies and House Leader Alexandre Boulerice.
The NDP caucus is now split into two parts in the House, with five members on the opposition side and two on the government. Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia has allotted the party seven questions per sitting week.
The seating change and the question reduction reflects that the party was reduced to seven seats in the last election, five short of the 12-seat threshold to be considered a “recognized” party in the House.
Now, those seven MPs are tasked with keeping the party relevant without the support given to recognized parties – including additional funding for staff and seats on House committees – though discussions about more support are continuing.
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“It’s been tough” to lose a number of MPs and staff members, acknowledged Mr. Davies. “It’s been a big adjustment for us all, but also at the same time, there’s a great responsibility for us and there [are] great opportunities, I think, in front of us as well.”
In the first week back, the NDP have congratulated the speaker, as well as laid out priorities for and responded to the Throne Speech, he said. MPs also asked questions in Question Period and spoke countless times in the chamber, he added, along with asking for an emergency debate and tabling a private member’s bill.
“Even though we’re obviously down in reduced numbers, we’ve, I think, punched far above our weight and we’ve made our presence felt in pretty much every facet of the week,” he said.
Mr. Davies said his party is in an open dialogue with the others for more resources, which he characterized as fruitful. He said they are in regular contact, and making progress. He hopes to have an agreement on them within weeks, not months.
When asked what progress meant, he said that they have “identified a list of resources and processes that will allow us to discharge our role in a responsible way” but declined to elaborate on specific asks.
The party has already seen some progress happen, he added, such as the NDP having an alcove in the opposition lobby – a key place for MPs to gather just outside the House of Commons chamber.
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet has said he does not want the NDP to have seats on House committees, as he wants to protect his party’s balance of power. However, he said he is open to discussions about other resources.
When asked about the potentially daunting workload, Ms. Gazan did not appear to be phased. She said she’s preparing petitions, reaching out to stakeholders and has spoken to Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski about the wildfire evacuations in her province.
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“I was a single mom,” she said. “I’ve always had to work really hard, and so nothing has really changed for me. I’m working just as hard.”
Jordan Leichnitz, who was previously deputy chief of staff to former NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, said around 100 central staff were likely laid off when the NDP lost party status. While MPs still have their own staff, it will be tricky for them to replace the dozens that are now gone, she said.
The Liberals would benefit from NDP having central staff, she said, because, for example, a whip’s office helps co-ordinate votes and the NDP holds a balance of power in the minority parliament.
The NDP will be a more cohesive group if there are central staff to help them with that co-ordination, she said.
Mr. Davies said that vote co-ordination is currently being done out of his office.
Mr. Johns acknowledged the workload will be tough. He says the party will be relying on stakeholders and labour groups, among others, to help keep an eye on issues on the ground.
“We’re going to have to be really clear that we’re going to choose a couple of key priorities,” he said.
As health critic, that includes protecting Canada’s health-care system from privatization, he said, and pushing for provincial pharmacare deals to be signed.
Along with strengthening health-care, Mr. Davies said the NDP is focused protecting workers from the U.S. tariff threats and addressing the housing crisis.