A federal NDP leadership candidate believes Canadians are fed up with how the Conservatives run the government.
Paul Dewar, an Ottawa MP, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has abused the majority mandate given to it last spring.
"When they're shutting down Parliament, stuffing the Senate and spending money without saying what it's being spent on, I would say it's not competent and certainly not democratic," he said during a visit with local New Democrats at the Pantry restaurant in Vernon Tuesday.
As an example, Dewar took a swing at Harper's recent suggestions that there could be changes to Old Age Security.
"Instead of going to Davos (Switzerland for an economic summit) to talk to millionaires, he should have come home to talk to seniors. This is an out-of-touch government," said Dewar.
Dewar urged local New Democrats to work on increasing the party's base before the 2015 federal election.
"I want us to do everything we can to convince Canadians we're not only a government in waiting but we're ready to govern," he said.
Dewar is one of eight candidates seeking the NDP leadership. The vote will be March 24.
Read more in Friday's Morning Star.