Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar announced his bid for leadership of the federal NDP today at a press conference at the Lord Elgin Hotel.
Dewar, 48, announced to a packed room of supporters that this is the chance to build an “open, engaged and growing” political party.
“This campaign is going to be about growing the party,” he said.
Dewar said he is a “grassroots” politician, and wants to engage the Canadian public as a whole. He said he wants to break away from “brokerage politics” that fractions the provinces and territories.
“I think where I have some skills is my ability to connect with people,” Dewar said.
A main challenge Dewar said he is dealing with is his French-speaking skills. He is not fluently bilingual, though he can understand French and respond.
“But I’ll overcome this challenge and take on Stephen Harper in both official languages,” he declared to the cheering, campaign-sign-waving crowd.
Officially announcing his candidacy means Dewar will be unable to continue in his position as foreign affairs critic for the NDP until the leadership race is over, according to campaign rules set by the NDP caucus.
The NDP interim party leader Nycole Turmel will announce who will fill the position of critic tomorrow, Dewar said.
Dewar said he has already had practice for balancing the leadership race while still attending to the concerns of his constituents because of his experience balancing the demands of the foreign affairs portfolio.
“It’s important to bring more to politics than just politics,” he said, echoing the political lessons he said he learned from his mother. Dewar is the son of late Ottawa mayor Marion Dewar.