“I sense when I talk to my colleagues they are looking forward to having a decision so that we can get a focus, because what we do in Parliament matters,” he told reporters at the Hamilton Convention Centre.\u00a0“I think that a lot of people feel like we’ve been treading water since 2015 and we’ve got to get down to it.”<\/p>\n
The four contenders will make their final pitches to members during a Leadership Showcase on Sunday, then voting begins Monday by mail and online. The results will be announced Oct.1 and if no one gets a majority of the votes, further rounds of voting will be held until there is a winner. About 124,600\u00a0members are eligible to vote.<\/p>\n
Making plans “in pencil”<\/h2>\n
The MPs are meeting in various breakout groups Saturday afternoon, then Sunday they will have a full caucus meeting before the candidates make their speeches.<\/p>\n
Nathan Cullen, a B.C. MP, told reporters the caucus is gathering with the understanding that plans they make\u00a0this weekend for the fall session could all change depending on who is elected. That person will quickly want to put their mark on the party’s strategy and could change roles within the caucus.<\/p>\n
“We’re drawing this plan in pencil, not felt marker,” said Cullen. “But we do need a plan going ahead.”<\/p>\n
While the MPs tried to focus on how to attack Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government when they return to Ottawa on Monday, the candidates themselves were busy doing interviews and preparing for their speeches.<\/p>\n
![\"NDP](\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/1.4293357.1505568484!\/fileImage\/httpImage\/image.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/original_620\/ndp-leadership-showcase.jpg\")
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Caron\u00a0said his focus on Saturday was entirely on preparing for his big moment on stage on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“For many members this will be when they are making their decision, so I\u00a0am focusing entirely on this,” he said.<\/p>\n
He is also trying to build more support from the caucus for his leadership bid.\u00a0Caron\u00a0said he has the most caucus endorsements, eight of them, and that talks with more MPs are ongoing.\u00a0Some MPs are remaining neutral in the race, others are undecided.<\/p>\n
Cullen, who ran in the last leadership race against Mulcair, said he’s struggling with the decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some MPs still undecided<\/h2>\n
“It’s a great problem to have, because I’ve got four quality choices and would be happy with any of them,” he told reporters.\u00a0He said he wants a leader who can maintain and build support in Quebec, bring in new members to the party and excite the NDP’s base. That will be the test he applies when he makes his decision, he said.<\/p>\n
Alexandre Boulerice hasn’t endorsed anyone and said he’s also having trouble making up his mind. He had each of the four candidates over for coffee to his home this summer.<\/p>\n
“It\u00a0was hard to pick one and not others, they all have strengths\u00a0and things I like in all of them,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ashton, who is running for leader for the second time, said this weekend’s gathering is about planning for the fall session but that talks on Saturday with her colleagues will also be about getting their votes. It is a ranked ballot, she noted, “so there are other choices to be made.”<\/p>\n
“It’s an important weekend,” she remarked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"NDP](\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/1.4281721.1504901901!\/fileImage\/httpImage\/image.png_gen\/derivatives\/original_620\/ndp-leadership-candidates.png\")
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From left to right: Ontario MP Charlie Angus, Ontario MPP Jagmeet Singh, Quebec MP Guy Caron, Manitoba MP Niki Ashton. (CBC)<\/p>\n
Singh is the only candidate who is not a member of the federal caucus and Ashton\u00a0weighed in with her thoughts on him not having a seat in the House of Commons.<\/p>\n
“I do believe being part of caucus and having a seat in the House of Commons does matter. Obviously we need a leader in the House right away to hit the ground running on key issues,” said Ashton.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"NDP](\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/1.4293447.1505579335!\/cpImage\/httpImage\/image.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/original_620\/ndp-retreat-20170915.jpg\")
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