MONTREAL - The New Democratic Party has recruited former Quebec environment minister Thomas Mulcair to run in the next election.
NDP Leader Jack Layton made the announcement at a news conference in Montreal today.
The NDP has traditionally struggled in Quebec, and Layton will be hoping his new lieutenant in the province can help the party make a major breakthrough.
Mulcair, 52, was first elected to the national assembly in 1994 and was re-elected in 1998 and 2003.
He was environment minister between 2003 and 2006.
Mulcair eventually crossed swords with Premier Jean Charest over the privatization of a park and he quit the cabinet in 2006 rather than accept a demotion.
He did not run for the Liberals in last month's election campaign.
