Mulcair not worried about MPs rebelling against his leadership

The NDP's Tom Mulcair says that while there are yet to be any signs of open revolt against his leadership, he's not afraid of the possibility as he prepares for a leadership review at his party's national convention this week.

"I have yet to hear anyone in caucus openly challenge my leadership, but you know what? It wouldn't be the end of the world if there was, because we're the New Democratic Party. We are the NDP," Mulcair told Peter Mansbridge in an interview with CBC's The National.

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"I would prefer to have every single person in the party on side, but you know, and I know, that wouldn't be real. So I'm going continue to meet with people," he said.

Mulcair said he has a lot of support in caucus and that he was "heartened" when all the Quebec MPs signed on to a letter of support for the leader.

Power Panel: Mulcair's leadership

8 years ago

Duration 8:26

The Power Panel discusses criticism of the NDP leader ahead of the party's convention in Edmonton

The NDP leader is going into the convention in Edmonton this weekend hoping party members will give him what he wants: The opportunity to continue leading the NDP.

More than 1,500 members of the NDP will be at that conventions to debate policyandthe direction of the party and to review their leader's performance.

Mulcair has been cagey on how much support he feels he needsto stay on as leader, butanything less than 50 per cent of the secret ballots cast would trigger an automatic leadership race within a year.

Watch Peter Mansbridge's full interview with Tom Mulcairon CBC'sThe National tonight at 10 p.m. on CBC Television (9 p.m. ET on CBC News Network).