HAMILTON—With competing chants and placards, a roving group of drummers and some old-time singalongs, the four candidates vying for the federal NDP leadership made their final cases to the party faithful Sunday afternoon.

The “leadership showcase” featured video presentations and speeches from contenders Charlie Angus, Niki Ashton, Guy Caron and Jagmeet Singh, who each argued they have the right mix of policy and personality to defeat Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and bring the NDP to government in 2019.

But the event was shadowed by internal party strife over proposed legislation in Quebec that would ban religious face coverings — such as the niqab — from people giving or receiving public services. One of the party’s Quebec MPs, Pierre Nantel, threatened to quit the party this week if the next leader doesn’t respect Quebec’s decision-making on the issue. He then told Radio-Canada on Saturday that people in Quebec “don’t want to see any ostentatious religious symbols. We think that is not compatible with power, with authority.”

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The comment resonated through the campaign in part because Singh, who has raised more money than his opponents and boasts bringing 47,000 new members to the party, is a practising Sikh who wears a turban and kirpan, the ceremonial dagger.

In his speech Sunday, Caron, the MP for Rimouski and the only candidate from Quebec, made a direct appeal to Singh, telling him from the stage that “you have a place in our party and in my Quebec.”

Caron brought the debate over Quebec’s legislation into the race in August, when he claimed that he would respect the provincial legislature’s decision on the religious symbols ban even though he personally opposes it. Caron argued Sunday that the issue may be uncomfortable, but the NDP must participate in the discussion to be relevant in Quebec politics, a province he maintains will be key to success in the 2019 election.

“I simply couldn’t take the easy road and leave these challenges for another day,” Caron said.

The four NDP leadership candidates are making their final case to party voters before balloting begins on Monday. National caucus chair Daniel Blaikie says the NDP will advocate for the same issues regardless of who becomes leader.

The NDP holds 16 seats in Quebec, after wining 59 in its historic breakthrough in the province in 2011 under Jack Layton.

Singh — squarely opposed to the legislation, even while acknowledging the federal government might not be able to stop it — said Sunday he is not concerned by challenges over his religion and appearance, and that he expects to win support in Quebec by conveying his social democratic convictions.

“I’m not here to convince you to accept my turban or my beard,” he said in French during his showcase. “I want to convince you that I’m someone who shares the same values as you.”

Caron also vowed to change the electoral system in his first act as prime minister, and pitched his basic income plan, which would deliver payouts to low-income Canadians to ensure no one lives below the poverty line. Singh, meanwhile, promised to institute a federal ban on racial profiling, which he later clarified could apply to federal agencies such as the RCMP.

Angus emphasized his work for Indigenous children; his portion of the event featured support from Serena Koostachin, who told the audience that the northern Ontario MP helped her 13-year-old sister, Shannen, bring attention to the dilapidated schoolhouse in their hometown of Attawapiskat.

“You and your sister taught me and the nation that Indigenous youth have incredible power to make change. And this is why I am here. To be a partner. To be an ally,” Angus said.

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He also argued that the “real division” in Canadian society is economic, and that he can bring together people from different backgrounds and regions in the country. “People have the power to make change, and we are going to bring that change to Ottawa,” he said.

Ashton’s showcase made the case that her “progressive” proposals, such as free tuition and pharmacare, will bring young voters to the NDP and help the party win government in 2019.

“Justin Trudeau, if you are listening, I have a message for you: Enjoy being prime minister while it lasts,” she said. “Canadians know that only the NDP will bring real change.”

Party members will begin voting by ranked ballot on Monday. Results will be unveiled each Sunday in October — with the potential for members to revote online each week — until a candidate gets at least 50-per-cent support.

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