More

'We Continue' NDP Ad For Mulcair Is Biggest Non-Election Ad Campaign Ever Launched By Party (VIDEO)

Posted: 04/ 5/2012 4:34 am Updated: 04/ 5/2012 3:59 pm

Amazing
 Inspiring
 Funny
 Scary
 Hot
 Crazy
 Important
 Weird

OTTAWA - Federal New Democrats are introducing their new leader to Canadians with the biggest non-election advertising campaign ever launched by the party.

A French television ad featuring Thomas Mulcair begins airing today; English ads are to follow after the Easter break.

The 15-second French ad shows Mulcair rolling up his shirt sleeves, looking directly into the camera and stating simply: "We continue."

"A government that listens to Quebecers, an economy greener and more prosperous for everyone. It's possible," he says.

He exhorts Quebecers to "build the future together."

NDP national director Chantal Vallerand says Mulcair and "his positive message of fighting for people" will be aired in every region of Quebec, on the web and during popular TV shows such as Tout le monde en parle.

"Unlike with past Opposition leaders, the New Democrats aren't just sitting and waiting for Conservative attacks," she says.

The Tories helped demolish the past two Liberal leaders, Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff, with attack ads that portrayed them respectively as "not a leader" and "just visiting" Canada. The ads helped create a negative impression of the two leaders before they got a chance to introduce themselves on their own terms to Canadians.

New Democrats hope their ads will help them define their new leader in a positive way before the Tories can frame him in a negative light. The party won't say how much it's spending on the ads, other than to say it's "the largest non-election advertising campaign" in NDP history.

The French ad appears aimed at reminding Quebecers that they still have a home in the NDP, despite the untimely death of Mulcair's predecessor, Jack Layton. It was largely on the strength of Layton's personal appeal that Quebecers delivered 59 seats to the NDP in last May's election, vaulting the party into official Opposition status for the first time in its 51-year history.

Mulcair, a Montreal MP and former Quebec cabinet minister, won the leadership on March 24, in large part because he was perceived as the candidate best able to hold onto the party's newfound Quebec base.

Also on HuffPost:

THOMAS MULCAIR
Loading Slideshow...

  • Thomas Mulcair

    NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair comments on the federal budget in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Thursday March 29, 2012. If there was any doubt that Thomas Mulcair's political universe revolves around Quebec, it was dispelled by his response to Thursday's federal budget. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

  • Thomas Mulcair

    NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair addresses the Economic Club of Canada in Ottawa, Thursday April 5, 2012. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand)

FOLLOW CANADA POLITICS

OTTAWA - Federal New Democrats are introducing their new leader to Canadians with the biggest non-election advertising campaign ever launched by the party.A French television ad featuring Thomas Mulca...
OTTAWA - Federal New Democrats are introducing their new leader to Canadians with the biggest non-election advertising campaign ever launched by the party.A French television ad featuring Thomas Mulca...
Filed by Brodie Fenlon  | 
 
 
  • Comments
  • 60
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2  Next ›  Last »  (2 total)
photo
Terran
110 Fans
10:05 PM on 04/05/2012
well, at least politics will be less dull with NDP around as an opposition party now that they have a leader in place. young justin though must be brewing with his liberal cohorts as a 3rd status party. it will be very interesting no doubt.
Permalink  |
jrooke4
38 Fans
04:07 PM on 04/05/2012
Neo-cons = right, NDP = left. Where is the middle? Where is the rational party? Mulcair is a popularist, always has been, thats the only reason he was selected as NDP leader (because they literally had no-one else that was rational seeming). the NDP are a useless opposition with minimal idea about the operations and mechanisms controlling the governments... and their systematic inability to account for our DEMOCRACY.... NDP, go back to protesting for social-rights, leave policy for the rational-minded.
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
kori77
86 Fans
05:14 PM on 04/05/2012
Left-right, us-them, rational-emotive. Problem is you're framing in to the old paradigm science. The science has in fact changed: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704304504574609992107994238.html
There is no us, there's only we. The science proves it. But the brain has been getting more divided over human evolution, and if it's gets anymore, we're going to as Iain McGilchrist says: "The left hemisphere, ever optimistic, is like a sleepwalker whistling a happy tune as it ambles towards the abyss. Let's wake up before we free-fall into the void."
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
kori77
86 Fans
05:44 PM on 04/05/2012
Left-right, us-them, rational-emotive. Duality is an Illusion, always has been and is not a good way to frame the world as we are now learning. New science confirms that even though the human brain has been getting more divided over evolution, as psychiatrist/author Iain McGilchrist describes in his fabulous book The Master and his Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World", "Almost every function once thought to be the province of one or other hemisphere—language, imagery, reason, emotion—is served by both hemispheres, not one." McGilchrist goes on to say "The left hemisphere has evolved to help us use the world to achieve our ends. But it is a specialist in denial. After a right hemisphere stroke, subjects will often flatly deny that anything is wrong, even when attention is drawn to the fact that half of their body may lie there useless. Or they may say it belongs to someone else, the guy in the next bed. The left hemisphere, ever optimistic, is like a sleepwalker whistling a happy tune as it ambles towards the abyss. Let's wake up before we free-fall into the void.".
Permalink  |
photo
NTodd
Aude Sapere
290 Fans
10:06 PM on 04/06/2012
Before you post the same comment a third time, I'd just like to point out that the model of left-right hemispheric specialization in the brain was superseded by neuroscience at least twenty-five years ago. Perhaps you might want to consult more authoritative sources than the Wall Street Journal in such matters.
Permalink  |
photo
Aefaradien
8 Fans
 
01:12 PM on 04/05/2012
Good to see Mulclair has taken the wind out of a possible Tory attack ad by stepping out into the light rather than huddling in a corner like the past few Opposition leaders.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
tnanimation
340 Fans
12:37 PM on 04/05/2012
'The Tories helped demolish the past two Liberal leaders, Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff, with attack ads...'
Very true. It's good to see the NDP get out ahead of things. We can only hope that
when the Liberal party chooses a leader they will do the same. Personally, I really
don't care if the NDP forms the next government or the Liberals (not likely), as long
as Harper's Reform party is turfed out in the next election. Canada can't afford much
more Alberta lead governing.
Permalink  |
photo
TonyOnly
Truth matters.
333 Fans
11:51 AM on 04/05/2012
Considering voter sentiment in this country, the NDP and the Liberals should be one, two. Instead of two, three.

But in order to do that, the NDP have to consider the Conservative Party in power as their number one target. Not the Liberals.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Kristopher Leang
training to take down the elite
109 Fans
12:27 PM on 04/05/2012
i agree, the fighting between the libs and NDP yesterday, whether real or media hyped, made me cringe. the enemy of my enemy is my friend. and the conservatives are the real enemy im sure the NDP and libs disagree on alot, but both could agree that either in power is better than the cons in power

even if a non-official verbal ceasefire is called this would greatly help
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
djelimon17
what's this thing for?
75 Fans
01:06 PM on 04/05/2012
yeah, I agree with that
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Thalin Lea
24 Fans
11:47 AM on 04/05/2012
It has become a trend that every time a party is re-elected they start to destroy what they built the first 4 years ,the voter confidence with the so called these days corruption scandals, unpopular bills approvals and so on. Apparently it takes 4 years for every party to do things right and win everyone's confidence and 4 more years to work under a total lack of transparency.
Maybe we should adopt the same strategy as voters and every 4 years bring to power a total different party, this way all of them will work efficiently to the country and the citizens they are supposed to serve with the hope they will get re-elected . Its the only way to get improvements and not disappointing setbacks.
Permalink  |
photo
Aefaradien
8 Fans
 
01:10 PM on 04/05/2012
I completely agree with you. It seems like when they gain a majority, they are no longer responsible to the people who elected them. It happened with the Libs and it is happening as we speak, with the Cons.

The only problem with having such short term governance is that long-term planning suffers, and we will end up suffering for it too in the end. I don't know what we can do about it though...
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
BlackRabbit
174 Fans
11:15 AM on 04/05/2012
"The Tories helped demolish the past two Liberal leaders, Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff, with attack ads that portrayed them respectively as "not a leader" and "just visiting" Canada."

And the Liberals returned the favour with attack ads on Harper, which obviously weren't terribly effective.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Kristopher Leang
training to take down the elite
109 Fans
12:29 PM on 04/05/2012
obviously the libs were effective with such an inept speaker and leader as stephane (although apparently a smart person) they still fight back a conservative majority for that election. so either the liberals under stephane were that bad, or else the conservatives campaign was soo bad and inept so one bought it. your pick. im not a liberal by the way or NDPer
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
BlackRabbit
174 Fans
12:38 PM on 04/05/2012
Well okay, if you call preventing a Conservative majority a success then they were successful.
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Capital Ottawa
45 Fans
10:58 AM on 04/05/2012
Glad to see the NDP being more proactive in talking the Canadians, it's about time.
Permalink  |
photo
turkeylurky
Just keepin it real........
140 Fans
10:23 AM on 04/05/2012
Yah, 'cause we need a Federal Gov't which caters to Quebec even more than past and present one have.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
696 Fans
10:27 AM on 04/05/2012
The translation is not correct. Quebecers are never mentioned in the advert. He says "everyone."
Permalink  |
compro01
Conservatism : Policy-based evidence making
118 Fans
 
10:49 AM on 04/05/2012
Yes, instead we need one catering to Alberta, the evangelists, and the major corporations.
Permalink  |
LetsKeepitSimple
80 Fans
10:16 AM on 04/05/2012
Let him do it in English first and then the French one after Easter? I would love to see the uproar if he did it that way..
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
djelimon17
what's this thing for?
75 Fans
10:25 AM on 04/05/2012
Yes, our politicians should be impolitic
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Kristopher Leang
training to take down the elite
109 Fans
12:30 PM on 04/05/2012
yaa except there would be no uproar and no one would care. get a life
Permalink  |
LetsKeepitSimple
80 Fans
01:26 PM on 04/05/2012
you dont live in quebec, i do....that is why Mulcairs signs are all in french here, only bilingual outside of quebec and why he is doing his french commercials first
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
696 Fans
10:16 AM on 04/05/2012
The translation supplied in the article is incorrect. Quebecers are never mentioned.

"We continue.
A government that listens. A greener more prosperous economy for everyone. It is possibile. We have a vision, we have a goal, to build the future together."
Permalink  |
yer
Stop the Alberta Taliban
240 Fans
01:45 AM on 04/07/2012
it is the objective to divide English Canadians from French Canadians because we are sorrily not fluent enough in both languages. Hence the Quebec version of the website while the English one continues to misrepresent and disparage Quebec. It's all part of the Con attack process to undermine Canada
Permalink  |
yer
Stop the Alberta Taliban
240 Fans
01:49 AM on 04/07/2012
I feel like another way to combat the hate from the PMO office is to learn more French. Quebec did what it could to save Canada even when English Canadians voted Harper for some reason. Our social values seem to come from Quebec ideals not Alberta corporations but the corporations are in charge for now. Perhaps in protesting Harper we also bring the nation together thanks again to Quebec.
Permalink  |
LetsKeepitSimple
80 Fans
10:14 AM on 04/05/2012
French first, and english when he gets around to it, anyway should be thankful he bothers, he sure doesnt in Quebec, all his campaign signs are French only in Quebec, with the NDP only being bilingual in the ROC.
Permalink  |
Jrdndaniels
1 Fans
 
10:10 AM on 04/05/2012
I feel like I need a cigarette after he made love to me with those eyes and that voice.
Permalink  |
photo
turkeylurky
Just keepin it real........
140 Fans
10:25 AM on 04/05/2012
Wait til he forms a Gov't - then you'll really get screwed..
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
696 Fans
10:28 AM on 04/05/2012
We have become quite familiar with that process having had this done to us royally by the Liberals and Conservatives.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Nathan Ottenson
The Christian Right are neither
176 Fans
11:43 AM on 04/05/2012
No more than the young and the poor people are with our current government.
Permalink  |
photo
Rural Roots
6 Fans
09:36 AM on 04/05/2012
Progressives from within the LPC, Greens and the NDP must realize that this conservative (?) government will find themselves, once again delivered into the hands of a minority of right wing fundamentalists should we not join hands and work towards the elimination of the contemptible Harper agenda. If we choose to continue our infighting, the result will likely be another minority CPC government come 2015 - will this not delay our efforts to regain the ground we have lost for the past six years? Cullen had the right idea and it's sad to see that his insight and vision didn't prevail at the NDP Leadership convention.

I believe that Thomas Mulcair and the NDP strategists have the right idea on elevating his parties ad strategy by suggesting the positive approach to confronting the CPC's choice to degrade opponents and define us before we define ourselves. This is the right direction to go forward - we must not use negative attack adds or we embrace division and denigrate the civil process of our democratic Canadian values. Mulcair must have an eye to what's best for us all - not limit our future by thinking he can accomplish the ends necessary by himself.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
djelimon17
what's this thing for?
75 Fans
10:40 AM on 04/05/2012
I am suspecting there will be an accord of some kind by next election as there has been in the past. However I also think Mulcair is trying establish a brand right now, and also sees the need to hammer home the idea that now it's the LPC that would be the junior partner in the relationship.
Permalink  |
photo
Rural Roots
6 Fans
10:58 AM on 04/05/2012
Understand and accept your reasoning as far as 'junior partner' goes at the present time - it is pertinent for all to realize though that 40% of the electorate failed to exercise their franchise to vote May 2, that a substantial number of blue and red Liberals either swung to the cons or sat this one out and that the youth of our nation are taking a much more active role in the political engagement process - Did you catch Rick ercer's last rant? Cheers!
Permalink  |
BritishColumbian
American/Canadian liberal
2676 Fans
08:58 AM on 04/05/2012
Good move by the NDP.
Permalink  |
Page: 1 2  Next ›  Last »  (2 total)