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OTTAWA — Three of the four federal NDP leadership hopefuls go toe-to-toe tonight in Victoria — an area regarded as fertile ground for the party in the midst of its rebuilding process.

Ontario legislator Jagmeet Singh, Manitoba MP Niki Ashton and Quebec MP Guy Caron are gearing up for a debate at the Victoria Conference Centre, although Ontario MP Charlie Angus is unable to attend due to a serious illness in his family. He has pre-recorded a video message set to be played during the event.

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The debate comes as all of the candidates work to sign up as many party members as possible before a registration cutoff on Aug. 17.

“I think this debate, while in the middle of summer, is actually a critical point in this leadership race,” said NDP strategist Robin MacLachlan, vice-president of the public affairs firm Summa Strategies.

“Victoria is a hotbed of progressive politics in this country and there’s a lot of key progressive issues that will be on display including of course energy and the environment.