New Democrats try out a sharper line of attack as Conservatives target NDP ridings

New Democrats say they're rolling out a new line of attack against the Conservativesas their leaderPierre PoilievretargetsNDP-heldridings.

On Tuesday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh started dropping a new line "The price of Pierre Poilievre" an echo ofPoilievre'sfrequent references to what he calls the "Liberal-NDP costly coalition."

The party is also pushing for passage of thepharmacarebill C-64, one of the centrepieces of its confidence and supply deal with the Liberals before Parliament rises for the summer. The party says it wants touse it and other policy wins to advance its strategy.

"The price of Pierre is something people are afraid of," Singh said inThunder Bay, Ont.on Tuesday. "The price of Pierre would mean life costs more, less services, less access to programs you need.

"No more dental care. No more pharmacare. That is a serious price."

The party hopes to reframe how Canadians see Poilievre. Anne McGrath, Singh's principal secretary in the House of Commons, admits the message's substance isn't really different from what New Democrats have been saying for a while.

McGrath said the next election is expected to yield a change in government. Polls show the Liberals bleeding considerable support and the Conservatives in a position to win in a landslide.

"[Canadians] are fed up with the federal government.They want a change," McGrath said. "We intend to make it clear that change can be a positive change."

McGrath said the NDP will continue highlighting the things its parliamentary caucus obtained through the confidence and supplyagreement with the Liberals, such as the Canadian Dental Care Planand an early version of pharmacare. That agreementsees New Democrats supportbills put forward by the Liberal minority governmentin exchange for policy wins on NDP priorities.

McGrath said a Conservative government would put those NDP gainsat risk.

"(Voters) should be looking at the kinds of things that Pierre probably will take away from them," she said.

Poilievre has not said explicitly he would scrapdental care, pharmacare or the federal government'snational child care plan. He has, however, criticized the effectiveness of these programs, or noted that some have yet to be implemented.

As he tours the country in preparation for the next election campaign, Poilievre has been spending time inNDP battleground ridings in northern Ontario and all over British Columbia.

Several NDP riding presidents say they have beenpaying attention to the resourcesConservatives have been pouring into their districts.

"We're going to see a battle with the Conservatives," said Don Bonner,NDP riding president for Nanaimo Ladysmith. "They are taking this riding very seriously."

In metro Vancouver, the NDP riding associationin New Westminster-Burnaby typically an NDP stronghold has been holding neighbourhood canvassing sessionsthat reach about 200 people monthly. A team of volunteers also phones constituents, informing seniors that they can apply for subsidized dental care.

"We don't take anything for granted," said the riding association's presidentDoris Mah. "We have to earn people's vote."

Recent polling analysis by the Writ.ca shows a number of B.C. NDP ridings could be in play. Even Singh's own riding could turn blue. The publisher of the online website, Eric Grenier, notes that polls show New Democrats are losing momentum.

"It does seem like the NDP has been losing some support, primarily to the Conservatives, over the last little while," Grenier said.

Grenier said that with their current polling numbers, New Democrats probably aren't at risk of losing party status. He said while the party may lose seats out west, it might pick up seats in downtown Toronto, Halifaxand St. John's since the Liberals are performing so badly in the polls.

Grenier said the numbers are not low enough to plunge New Democrats "into panic mode" andthe party has seen lowernumbers in the past.

"But the trend line is not going in the right direction," Grenier said.

Former NDP communications director George Soule, now a principal at the strategic communications firm Syntax, agreed now is not the time for New Democrats to freak out. He also dismissed suggestionsthat the recent departure of veteran NDP MPs signals the party is in trouble.

At least six of the party's MPs Randall Garrison, Rachel Blaney, Richard Cannings, Charlie Angus, Carol Hughes and Daniel Blaikie won't fight the next federal election. Blaikie is taking a job with Manitoba's NDP Premier Wab Kinew. Hughes'riding is disappearing after changes were made to theelectoral map. Others have said they are stepping down for personal reasons, or because they want to spend more time with their loved ones.

Soule argues the party has attracted some well-known candidateslike Maya Tait, mayor of Sooke B.C., who is running in Garrison's old riding ofEsquimalt-Saanich-Sooke.

Soule also said the party is in better financial shape now, having paid off its campaign debt well in advance ofthe next election. The party is even fundraising offthe challenge posed bythe Conservatives by reopening its "Blue vs. Orange Battleground Fund."

"It's easy to tell stories about the NDP dying," Soule said, citingthe 2011 election breakthrough thatcatapulted it into Official Opposition for the first time.

"(It) was a good election that proved don't bury us until we're gone."