NDP leadership race enters critical phase as candidates prepare for final push
OTTAWA — Many NDP supporters may be focused on putting their feet up for the rest of the summer but their party’s leadership race is about to enter a critical phase as candidates eye the last leg of the campaign to replace Tom Mulcair.
From now until the finish line, four candidates — Quebec MP Guy Caron, Manitoba MP Niki Ashton, Ontario MP Charlie Angus and Ontario legislator Jagmeet Singh — will be focused on the final push to sign up new members, especially with a looming Aug. 17 cutoff to bring in fresh blood.
“At the end of the day, that’s going to be a big factor in who can win this race,” said former NDP national director Karl Belanger. “It is crunch time … When you bring your own people in, it is much easier to know where they are going to end up and who they are going to end up supporting.”
This week, fundraising figures from Elections Canada from the second quarter will also be released ahead of a debate in Victoria — a telling moment in the race, Belanger said, noting it is critical for campaigns to demonstrate momentum when party members are preparing to make up their minds about the next leader.