The four federal NDP leadership hopefuls had one last chance Sunday to make their case to party voters before balloting begins to select a replacement for outgoing leader Thomas Mulcair.
And all four said they are the candidate to unseat Prime Minister Justin Trudeau香蕉视频直播檚 government.
Manitoba MP Niki Ashton, Quebec MP Guy Caron and Ontario MP Charlie Angus and Ontario legislature member Jagmeet Singh took part in a leadership showcase Sunday at a caucus retreat. Each candidate had 22 minutes to present their plan for the federal party and all kept their verbal barbs targeted at Trudeau香蕉视频直播檚 Liberals, not each other.
Singh, the perceived frontrunner, pitched himself as the candidate who can square off against Trudeau to win in 2019.
香蕉视频直播淭hey told us we couldn香蕉视频直播檛 win in the suburbs and we did,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚n Alberta and British Columbia we were told we香蕉视频直播檇 never win government, but Rachel Notley and John Horgan (did). We香蕉视频直播檝e also been told that the NDP will never form the federal government. But together, we will.香蕉视频直播�
Singh said if he香蕉视频直播檚 selected as party leader, he will battle against income inequality, protect the environment and vowed to enact a ban on racial profiling. He also mentioned the highly publicized incident earlier this month when a heckler accused him of supporting Shariah law and the Muslim Brotherhood. The incident highlights why the party must stand against all forms of hate, he said.
香蕉视频直播淲e need to champion the politics of love to fight the growing politics of hate,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he politics of courage to fight the politics of fear.香蕉视频直播�
Off-stage, Singh responded to comments from Quebec MP Pierre Nantel, who on Saturday said Quebecers wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 want their leaders wearing 香蕉视频直播渙stentatious religious symbols.香蕉视频直播� Singh said he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 believe people will be bothered by his turban.
Caron, who was endorsed by Nantel, distanced himself from the MP香蕉视频直播檚 comments, saying 香蕉视频直播淛agmeet, you have a place in my party and in my Quebec.香蕉视频直播�
Angus香蕉视频直播檚 presentation focused on reconciliation with Indigenous communities, cutting student debt and economic inequality. Standing with a worker from the Cami automotive plant in Ingersoll, Ont., he vowed to fight corporate interests, and the Trudeau government, to stand up for workers.
香蕉视频直播淭hey may have the lobbyists, the money and the inside track, but our history in the New Democratic Party, in the labour movement, in the women香蕉视频直播檚 movement, in the environmental movement, at the grassroots has proven time and time and time again that people have the power to make change,香蕉视频直播� Angus said.
Ashton told the crowd that if she led an NDP government she would eliminate tuition fees, create a national childcare system and a Crown corporation to fight climate change. She told party members that the NDP must be 香蕉视频直播渂old and progressive香蕉视频直播� if it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be successful.
香蕉视频直播淛ustin Trudeau, if you are watching, I have a message for you,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淓njoy being prime minister while it lasts. 香蕉视频直播� Canadians know that only the NDP will bring real change.香蕉视频直播�
Caron pledged to fight the Trudeau government with a substance over style approach. The party won香蕉视频直播檛 form government if it can香蕉视频直播檛 bolster its seat count in Quebec, he added. The NDP currently holds 16 seats in Quebec, well below the 59 it claimed in its historic breakthrough in the province in 2011 under Jack Layton香蕉视频直播檚 leadership.
香蕉视频直播淲e absolutely need to regain our strength in Quebec,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen we win in Quebec, we win seats all across the country because then, we become a real progressive alternative everywhere in Canada.香蕉视频直播�
The NDP announced in August that party membership had more than tripled since March, from 41,000 to 124,000 card-carrying New Democrats.
Members of the NDP will vote for Mulcair香蕉视频直播檚 successor via mail-in or online voting starting Monday with results to be announced in early October.
Shawn Jeffords, The Canadian Press
