With Quebec a key battleground for the NDP in this election, the party has set its sights on the NDG-Westmount riding, in hopes of claiming it from Liberal incumbent Marc Garneau.

Thomas Mulcair made his first campaign stop in Montreal Tuesday, as dozens of caucus members, nomination hopefuls and NDP supporters came out to Beaver Lake on Mount Royal to see the leader make his pitch.

“The Orange Wave started here in Quebec and on Oct. 19, we can complete the job,” he said amid cheers.

For Mulcair, this stop was significant.

“It was eight years ago that here on Mount Royal I announced with Jack Layton my candidacy to become and NDP MP in Quebec, and over that time the NDP has worked hard to earn the trust of Quebecers,” he said.

Quebecers gave the NDP 59 seats in the last election. Before it can seek to win NDG-Westmount, it must choose an NDP candidate, and the race is heating up in the riding.

“It has attracted a number of well-known candidates – phenomenal candidates! When was the last time you had eight people vying for an NDP nomination in NDG? I can't remember it!” said Mulcair, who said it shows Canadians want change, and that the NDP is an attractive alternative to the Conservatives and Liberals.

“I couldn't be prouder to see that many quality people. My only regret is that they can't all win, but we're going to have an incredible candidate in NDG-Westmount and that person will be a key member of our government when we form government on Oct. 19,” he told the crowd.

Canada's electoral map looks different than it did in 2011. There were 308 seats in the last federal election; now there are 338, a reflection of the changes in the country's population.

NDG-Westmount is one of the newly configured ridings, and it may no longer be the safe Liberal seat it once was.

“I will work very hard to bring out the Liberal platform,” said Garneau, campaigning in his riding Tuesday.

The former was first elected to represent Westmount-Ville Marie in 2008.

He's now seeking a third mandate in the new NDG-Westmount riding.

“We have a very good platform that is focused on a lot of their priorities. I just talked about families, but also infrastructure, housing – affordable and social housing – public transportation,” he said.