Support puts pressure on Julian to make decision
As the number of supporters inside and outside of the federal NDP caucus give their endorsements to his potential candidacy for the party's leadership, Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian admits the urgency for him to make a decision grow.
Last week, Julian received the blessing of two Ontario MPs. On Wednesday, another from the Montreal area and Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart added their voices to those encouraging the bilingual Julian to seek the position left vacant following the death of Jack Layton.
However, Julian said Friday it will be at least 10 days before he makes up his mind.
"That [support] certainly increases the pressure," said Julian on Friday. "There is definitely support that is there. But you have to complete the process, you have to make all the calls you can, and by making those calls you get a good sense where people are.
"With the mourning period, it's a different context than it might be for other leadership contests. People are still mourning for Jack and have been for a long time. The conversations are different ... people are still mulling over their decision."
Julian said when he entered politics he didn't have leadership aspirations because that's something that has to be earned.
"My thinking that this is something people identify for you, not something you decide for yourself," said Julian. "It's not something that somebody puffs out their chests and say they want to run for a leadership.
"I'm gratified when people say they want me to run, but I'm also talking to other people whose opinions I value to get a sense of where people are at."
Julian said in making his decision he will have to consider "tremendous financial, personal and family commitment" running for the leadership would require.
Julian lived in Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic for 14 years, including serving as the party's provincial deputy secretary. He said it is important the next NDP leader by bilingual.
Only two have officially declared their intention to run, party president Brian Topp and northern Quebec rookie MP Romeo Saganash.
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
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