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Thomas Mulcair Throws Shots At Tories, Liberals During Testimony

Mulcair To Liberal: 'Sorry To Destroy Your Perry Mason Moment'
The Huffington Post Canada

Thomas Mulcair turned his rhetorical guns on both Conservative and Liberal rivals Thursday as he testified at the procedure and House affairs committee about his party's controversial satellite offices.

The NDP leader maintained offices the party set up in Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto, which accommodated political staffers whose salaries are paid by the taxpayers, were all set up in a transparent fashion.

Mulcair insisted the party respected the rules as they existed at the time.

But the NDP leader also made it clear he wasn't pleased to be hauled in front of the committee to explain himself. According to the Library of Parliament, it marked the first time in Canadian history an opposition leader has been ordered to testify at a committee.

Mulcair, sometimes derided by opponents as "Angry Tom," had a testy exchange with CTV reporter Laurie Graham over questions about the offices and party mailouts a day earlier.

But on Thursday, he was not goaded into any kind of televised meltdown.

Here are just some of the combative, sarcastic or just plain sassy comments Mulcair threw back at his inquisitors.

Why Am I Here?
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Mulcair didn't mince words about how unhappy he was to be there in the first place."In my 36 years in government, I've never seen the governing party get together with its hand-maiden in the third party to convene the Leader of the Opposition," he said.
'Oh Darn'
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Mulcair was repeatedly accused of rambling on in order to chew up time, and avoiding simple "yes" or "no" responses. When he was told that he or one of the other MPs was out of time, he'd sarcastically reply, "oh darn."Tory MP Stephen Woodworth said that in five years sitting on a committee, he has never "seen a witness as evasive."
Laying Down The Law
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Mulcair also threw a personal dig at Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc who, like the NDP leader, is a lawyer."I thought you were a lawyer," he said. "Maybe I was mistaken."
See You In 2015
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
While singing the praises of his own party, Mulcair suggested the governing Tories are headed for "fourth, maybe third-party status" in the next election.He said Liberal "henchmen" would be lucky to get third party status in 2015.Apparently the NDP leader sees a surge in support coming for the Green Party and Bloc Quebecois.

The 2015 federal election debates should be interesting.

With files from The Canadian Press

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