NDP Leadership Convention 2017

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MP Brigitte Sansoucy (Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot) endorsed Ashton. She had previously endorsed Julian.

Ashton is closing in on Singh for the total number of MP endorsements. 

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I didn't think Ashton could win. In her last leadership she got a few percent of the vote. The number of MPs endorsements is probably not indicative but she is getting some (and more than Angus, maybe some are waiting in Setember to come public?). When the fundraising numbers came out she was third in the total number of donors but not that far behind. The Mainstreet poll has her in second but it's only past members and donors and not all eligible voters for the next leadership vote. By these measures she doesn't appaear totally out of it so maybe if there is a low number of votes and she attracts motivated activists and leftists she could avoid being third and be in the final round.      

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I didn't see it coming NDP candidates would all of a sidden start attacking Quebec proposed bill 62. It comes from the provincial Liberals, they have stalled to take action and lower the requirements. They don't forbid wearing of religious symbols for people rin position of authority. They only ask for people to give or get government services to show their face. I will let Couillard explain himself:

Couillard explained that the legislation is not about religion.
“Public services should be given with an open face,” he said. “Why? Not because of religion but because of issues related to communication, safety, and identification. It’s the characteristic of any society that when we talk to each other I see your face, you see mine. This is something that is very distinct from religion.”
“Seeing your face, you seeing mine, is part of a normal and healthy communication, which is quite distinct from religion,” he explained. “The rest of what people want to wear around their neck, on their heads, frankly I don’t care. If they come to work and do a good job, are involved in Quebec, this is what we want.”

He wanta to avoid the religion issue. It's probably an English media issue because the complaints in French media would not be against it, it's good or not enough. Caron's proposal was to not intervene in this provincial debate. It would not be good if there is coverage of the Montreal debate and what comes out is NDP thinks uncovered face in government is unacceptable.

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The Montreal debate was televised on RDI, Radio-Canada's news network. After the debate their  regular political commentators said Caron and Ashton did the best performance.


 

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It seems to me the progressive view is removing religion from public affairs, be free of code of conducts dictated by religion.

Le Devoir is reporting different NDP reactions to proposed bill 62 and Singh's willingness to challende to court. MP Hélène Laverdière who is supporting Singh is comfortable with his position. MP Alexandre Boulerice finds Singh's position too extreme in defense of individual rights. He says his position is more balanced between individual rights and defense of some collective rights and some social norms. Reaction from already critical of Singh ex-MPs: Pierre Dionne Labelle: says it's going more and more difficult to win seats with his position. Labelle finds bill 62 timid and they can't be against something 80% of the ppulation agrees with. Alain Giguère thinks the bill doesn't go far enough and doesn't target all religious symbols.

http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/506693/la-laicite-s-invite-au-npd

So a diversity of opinions on this topic. 

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Léger has a poll on the federal political scene in Quebec and it contains questions on the NDP leadership race. (document in English)
http://www.leger360.com/admin/upload/publi_pdf/Politics%20in%20Quebec_August%202017%20-%20EN-FED.pdf

25% are interested in the NDP leadership race. (46% of non francophones, 20% of francophones)

Considering the level of interest I don't know if other questions are meaningful.

Which candidate is preferes for next leader: Don't know 58%, None 22%
Caron 10%, Singh 4%, Angus 3%, Ashton 2%
(but Singh leads among non-franco with 8% before Caron and Ashton at 6%)

The impact of leader with turban: no effect 55%. discourage from voting 28%, encourage to vote for him 2%.

For voting intentions, Léger's question includes the name of the leader and the party.
The current situation using Mulcair's name for NDP leader is Lib 43%, NDP 19%, Bloc 19%, Conservative 15%.   
NDP gets 23% of the franco vote and 9% of the non franco and by region does best outside the Quebec City and Montreal metro areas with 22%.

Using the different candidates names as leader, The Liberals gain 4% with the two frontrunners and would be at 47% while NDP gets 13% with Angus and 11% with Singh. Caron performs better with 16% (and Lib at 46%). Ashton gets 11% (Lib 46%)

So the next leader will have to get known and develop a message to attract voters.

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Nantel will be voting for Caron. Not sure if it counts has an MP endorsement since he is talking of leacing. I think that would put Caron with the same number of MPs behind him.