Peter Julian to continue as NDP House Leader in next Parliament

British Columbia MP Peter Julian will continue to serve as the NDP House Leader in the next Parliament, Tom Mulcair announced Friday.

As New Democrats who lost their seats on Monday evening begin the process of cleaning out offices and apartments in Ottawa, the 44NDP candidates re-elected and elected for the first timemet by teleconference.

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Julian, who represents the riding of BurnabyNew Westminster, was first elected in 2004 and is one of the most experienced MPs on Mulcair's team. He is bilingual and has served asthe party's critic for portfolios likeenergy, natural resources and finance.

The 42nd Parliament bringsa different role for the NDP, replaced as the Official Opposition by the Conservative Party in the Oct. 19 vote. New Democrats will return to the third-party status they held prior to 2011, which reduces the parliamentary resources available to their smaller caucus.

Mulcair also must move out of Stornoway, the official residence forthe leader of the Opposition.

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"New Democrats will be fighting for the priorities of Canadians, including strengthening health care, taking action on climate change and beginning a new era of relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Mtis peoples," Mulcairsaid in a release after the meeting.

"We're committed to making parliament work for Canadians and our remarkable team of NDP MPs is ready to press the Liberal government to deliver meaningful and positive change."