TORONTO - NDP leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair wants the party to create a $3.38-million fund to take on the Conservatives in the next election.

The number of seats in Parliament will increase to 338 for the 2015 vote, and Mulcair says the New Democrats need resources in each riding to defeat the Tories and form the next government.

He says the fund should be a key element of the NDP's plans to prepare for the next election and will help spread the so-called orange wave right across the country.

Mulcair says the party should start a campaign next Monday to define Prime Minister Stephen Harper and what he's doing wrong, knowing the Tories will do the same to the new NDP leader.

The front-running Mulcair picked up endorsements today from two more Ontario New Democrat members of provincial parliament, veteran Michael Prue and rookie Teresa Armstrong.

Mulcair will face off against six other candidates at a convention in Toronto on Saturday, but party members are already casting votes and can continue to do so from home during the balloting.