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The defection of NDP MP Glenn Thibeault to the Ontario Liberals is raising some questions about Thomas Mulcair's prospects in a federal election that's now less than 10 months away.

And an interview Thibeault gave to CBC's Power & Politics Tuesday likely won't dissuade those convinced the MP now wants to run in a provincial byelection in Sudbury because things don't look bright for the federal NDP.

Thibeault, a former caucus chair and critic for consumer affairs, small business and tourism, backed Mulcair for NDP leader in 2012. And when Thibeault was nominated in September to run again federally, Mulcair was by his side.

However, the Toronto Star reported this week that relations between the two have been strained for months.

Thibeault told host CBC Evan Solomon that he hasn't been "seeing eye-to-eye" on a lot of things happening in the federal NDP, but wouldn't share specifics because of caucus confidentiality.

He did make reference to Mulcair's recent comments about reviving the long-gun registry, a divisive issue for many MPs in northern and rural communities.

"Some might say that you're looking ahead and realizing maybe the NDP's electoral fortunes don't look good on a federal level. You didn't go provincially for the NDP but you may hop into cabinet with Kathleen Wynne," Solomon said. "Was it about power expediency or was it about a sense that the NDP wasn't on a path that you thought would end up in power?"

Thibeault denied he was thinking about cabinet, saying he needs to win the byelection first. He did not, however, share thoughts on the electoral prospects of the federal NDP.

That's when Solomon asked a particularly interesting question about the 2015 election.

"The Ontario Liberals will support the federal Liberals in the next election, as you know. Kathleen Wynne is open about her support for Justin Trudeau," Solomon said. "Would you now want to see Justin Trudeau win the next election instead of Tom Mulcair?"

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NDP Defector Glenn Thibeault Won't Say If He Wants Mulcair Or Trudeau To Win In 2015