NDP leadership candidate Paul Dewar (left) keeps an eye on Thomas Mulcair (right) during a debate in Ottawa, Ont., Dec. 4, 2011.
Credits: (ERROL MCGIHON/QMI Agency)
OTTAWA - Federal NDP leadership hopefuls have started to get feisty in a leadership race that's mostly seen them go easy on each other.
Like a matador, Ottawa MP Paul Dewar waved a red cape before Thomas Mulcair, goading him with the accusation the Montreal MP was in favour of bulk water exports.
"Come on, Paul, I've always fought for the protection of our freshwater resources," said Mulcair, clearly agitated by the accusation.
Mulcair also grew testy when B.C. MP Nathan Cullen made a backhanded reference to the former Quebec provincial minister's Liberal pedigree.
"You met a progressive Canadian who was part of the only federal party in Quebec, Nathan, give it up," said Mulcair.
Still, most candidates trained their fire on Prime Minister Stephen Harper over his yet-to-be-announced changes to Old Age Security.
The next debate amongst the party's eight leadership candidates is in Quebec City on Feb. 12.
