The NDP is not exactly off to a good and propitious start. With so many voter expectations vested in it, the party should be extremely careful if it wants to retain and/or build on its newfound strength.

Thomas Mulcair has been the party’s “star” in Québec since becoming the first NDP MP in that province in 2007. It’s been noticeable before, but now his arrogance has hit a new high, or low, depending on where you stand.

In a now-infamous statement, and one just as quickly disowned by the NDP, Mr. Mulcair has said that he doesn’t believe the US actually has footage of Osama bin Laden getting killed. Even worse, he appears to come to the defence of the world’s worst killer and terrorist, questioning the lawfulness of bin Laden’s killing.

Sadly, this kind of anti-American posturing and siding with a known terrorist will go over relatively well with the typical voter in Québec, but in the rest of Canada this kind of peddling of a conspiracy theory won’t sit well – and it could also make Canada a laughing stock around the world, not unlike the way reasonable people laugh at crazies like the “birthers”.

It’s a good thing that the NDP countered Mr. Mulcair’s silliness so swiftly, but this particular MP will likely create even more chaos and ridicule for the party down the road.

Or, perhaps, Mr. Mulcair has yet to learn that he no longer represents a fringe party, but Canada’s Official Opposition.