Mulcair launches 'full campaign' in Labrador byelection

The NDP has wasted no time in trying to make waves in the byelection in Labrador, even though Prime Minister Stephen Harper has yet to set a date.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair set aside Tuesday morning to shake hands with workers at the gates of Wabush Mines and Monday night hehad attended a union rally on behalf of newly selected candidate Harry Borlase.

"The NDP is going to be running a full campaign, here for Harry," said Mulcair.

"It's going to be a campaign that will see a lot of our MPs come up here. You're going to see a full team on the ground," he said.

The byelection was made necessary after Conservative Peter Penashue resigned his seat amid revelations that his 2011 campaign wrongfully accepted more than two dozen ineligible campaign contributions.

The Conservative Party of Canada has already named Penashue as its candidate.

Penashue won the seat two years ago by just 79 votes over Liberal incumbent Todd Russell, who earlier this week decided not to pursue the party's nomination. The Liberals have confirmed that Yvonne Jones will be their party's candidate.

The Conservatives and Liberals have already each issued attack ads against each other, although Mulcair said the NDP will be a factor in the race.

Over the weekend, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May made an unsuccessful call on the NDP to stay out of the race, in order to avoid a vote-splitting scenario that would boost the Harper Conservatives.

The NDP hasnever had a federal breakthrough in Labrador. Except for two Tory wins, the seat has otherwise been held by the Liberals since Newfoundland and Labrador joined Confederation in 1949.

A date for the Labrador byelection may be set as early as Friday.