TORONTO - The economy will play a larger-than-expected role in the New Democrats' leadership campaign in coming months, with contenders saying Ontario residents will want a party leader to tackle jobs losses and difficult markets.
NDP finance critic Michael Prue says he knows people are a little dubious about the party's ability to tackle economic issues - and that's why he's running.
He says people need to believe the party is as good on the economy as it is on the environment and social issues if they're going to vote in an NDP government.
Former Greenpeace head Peter Tabuns, who announced his candidacy over the weekend, is pushing what he calls a `new energy economy' that will tackle both job losses and the environment.
But Tabuns says he won't make the same mistake as federal Liberal Leader Stephane Dion because unlike Dion's Green Shift, his plan will show there's a substantial economic benefit attached to it.
NDP veteran Gilles Bisson is also in the running for the leadership while Andrea Horwath, who is widely expected to run, says she will make her intentions clear very shortly.
