Peter Julian steps down as NDP House leader to consider leadership bid

NDP MP Peter Julian is steppingdown from his job as the party's House leaderto focus on a potential bid to succeed Tom Mulcair.

Julian said he will have discussions with people across the country before deciding if he will formally enter the race.

• Why are some staying out ofraces?
• NDP slams LNG decision

"I'm inspired by New Democrats, I'm inspired by Canadians, and I'm looking forward to those conversations that will be taking place in the next period," he said.

Party members rejectedMulcair'sleadership at a convention in Edmonton in April, voting 52 per cent to 48 in favour of a leadership review. Thecaucus agreed to keep him on as caretaker leader until a replacement is chosen next fall.

So far, no one has officially declared a run for the leadership. Meanwhile, nine candidates have declared their intention to seek the Conservative leadership, with several more sending signals they will join the race.

But Mulcairsaid there is much enthusiasm within the party.

"It's an exciting time for us in the NDP as we go through this process," he said.

The next NDP leader's primary role will be to rebuild the party after last year's crushing electoral defeat.

The NDP has struggledwith sagging support and flaggingfundraising since the Liberal government was elected a year ago.

Slumping support

Polls in September put theNDP'ssupport at between 9 and 12 per cent.

Julian, who was first elected in 2004 to represent the British Columbiariding of BurnabyNew Westminster, is bilingual and has served asthe party's critic for portfolios that include energy, natural resources and finance.

As Prime Minister Justin Trudeauappeared on a series of morning talk shows to tout his government's record the first year in office, Julian said the Liberals have let people down.

"I think there are a lot of Canadians that are disappointed in how the first year has gone," he said. "There was a commitment to real change and we haven't seen that real change. So what I'll be doing over the next little while is talking with Canadians and getting my inspiration from them and from New Democrats about the next steps to take for our country."

B.C. MP Murray Rankin will take over the post of NDP House leader. That role comes with an annual salary bump of $16,800.